Gene Transfer Agent—a novel and widespread occurrence mechanism of gene exchange in ocean—A review

Abstract:

Abstract:Gene Transfer Agent (GTA) particles are released by bacteria and resemble small，tailed bacteriophages．GTA particles contain small，random pieces of host DNA rather than GTA structural genes or a phage genome．Gene transfer mediated by GTA is efficient and species specific based on knowledge of currently best studied GTAs produced by 4 anaerobes．Genome sequencing projects have revealed a remarkable distribution of GTA gene clusters in the genomes of marine bacterioplankton，implying GTA may be an important mechanism for horizontal gene transfer in ocean．On basis of characterization of the 4 best studied GTAs，this review described GTAs released by numerically dominant marine bacteria，discussed their properties that were important for horizontal gene transfer in ocean，and gave future perspectives to advance GTA research．