title: Evolution of sensory complexity recorded in a myxobacterial genome.
abstract: Myxobacteria are single-celled, but social, eubacterial predators. Upon starvation they build multicellular fruiting bodies using a developmental program that progressively changes the pattern of cell movement and the repertoire of genes expressed. Development terminates with spore differentiation and is coordinated by both diffusible and cell-bound signals. The growth and development of Myxococcus xanthus is regulated by the integration of multiple signals from outside the cells with physiological signals from within. A collection of M. xanthus cells behaves, in many respects, like a multicellular organism. For these reasons M. xanthus offers unparalleled access to a regulatory network that controls development and that organizes cell movement on surfaces. The genome of M. xanthus is large (9.14 Mb), considerably larger than the other sequenced delta-proteobacteria. We suggest that gene duplication and divergence were major contributors to genomic expansion from its progenitor. More than 1,500 duplications specific to the myxobacterial lineage were identified, representing >15% of the total genes. Genes were not duplicated at random; rather, genes for cell-cell signaling, small molecule sensing, and integrative transcription control were amplified selectively. Families of genes encoding the production of secondary metabolites are overrepresented in the genome but may have been received by horizontal gene transfer and are likely to be important for predation.
authors.affiliation: Monsanto Company, St. Louis, MO 63167, USA. barry.s.golman@monsanto.com
authors.forename: B S
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Goldman
authors.forename: W C
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Nierman
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kaiser
authors.forename: S C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Slater
authors.forename: A S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Durkin
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Eisen
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Eisen
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Ronning
authors.forename: W B
authors.initials: WB
authors.lastname: Barbazuk
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Blanchard
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Field
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Halling
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Hinkle
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Iartchuk
authors.forename: H S
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mackenzie
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Madupu
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Shvartsbeyn
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Sullivan
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vaudin
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Wiegand
authors.forename: H B
authors.initials: HB
authors.lastname: Kaplan
mesh_terms: D020564:Deltaproteobacteria / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D016680:Genome, Bacterial; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D005810:Multigene Family; D016941:Myxococcus xanthus / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / Q000235:genetics; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S