DNA-incorporating microbial cells as agents of lateral gene transfer in extreme environments

2015 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 26650140
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Exploratory Research
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Evolutionary biology
• Research Institution: Kyushu University
• Principal Investigator: Yanagawa Katsunori 九州大学, 比較社会文化研究科(研究院), 研究員 (50599678)
• Project Period (FY): 2014-04-01 – 2016-03-31
• Keywords: 遺伝子水平伝播 / コンピテントセル / 熱水

Outline of Final Research Achievements

An easy and rapid protocol to detect DNA-incorporating microbial cells by using flowcytometer was developed. This methodology was applied to microbial communities in several geothermal sites. Only one site showed the existence of naturally competent microbial cells, which uptake DNA molecules directly from extracellular environments into the cell bodies. In contrast, no uptake was observed after the long-term incubation of the samples. This study suggests that naturally competent cells are present in hot spring water and play an important role in horizontal gene transfer.

Free Research Field

地球微生物学