title: [Gene transfer agent--a novel and widespread occurrence mechanism of gene exchange in ocean-a review].
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.
authors.affiliation: Nanjing Institute of Geography and Limnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing 210008, China. hycai@niglas.ac.cn
authors.forename: Haiyuan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Cai
mesh_terms: D001419:Bacteria / Q000235:genetics*; D022761:Gene Transfer, Horizontal; D009792:Oceans and Seas; D014871:Water Microbiology