Journal or Publishing Institution: Current Biology
Study: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15084296
Author(s): Steele, R.E., Hampson, S.E., Stover, N.A., Kibler, D.F. and Bode, H.R.
Article Type: Journal Publication
Record ID: 2208
Text: Horizontal gene transfer has been well documented as a significant feature of genome evolution in prokaryotes [1–3]. The frequency and significance of this process in eukaryotic evolution is much less clear. Confirming that a gene has entered a species by a horizontal route can be difficult, and many previously reported cases of horizontal gene transfer from a prokaryote to a eukaryote have subsequently been invalidated [4]. Because of potential contamination, extra care must be taken when putative horizontal gene transfers are detected in sequence datasets from organisms that may harbor a significant number of parasites and commensals. In a small number of metazoan phyla, a significant fraction of the mRNA contains a leader sequence that is attached by trans-splicing [5]. These spliced leaders are distinct for each phylum and thus provide a tag that can be used to determine the origin of a trans-spliced mRNA. Thus, presence of a spliced leader on a mRNA from a trans-splicing species would confirm that the gene was not derived from a non trans-splicing contaminating organism…
Keywords: Gene Transfer, Trans-Splicing, Hydra
Citation: Steele, R.E., Hampson, S.E., Stover, N.A., Kibler, D.F. and Bode, H.R., 2004. Probable horizontal transfer of a gene between a protist and a cnidarian. Current Biology, 14(8), pp.R298-R299.
