Horizontal gene transfer in osmotrophs: playing with public goods.

Richards, Thomas A.; Talbot, Nicholas J.

Osmotrophic microorganisms, such as fungi and oomycetes, feed by secreting depolymerizing enzymes to process complex food sources in the extracellular environment, and taking up the resulting simple sugars, micronutrients and amino acids. As a consequence of this lifestyle, osmotrophs engage in the acquisition and protection of public goods. In this Opinion article, we propose that horizontal gene transfer (HGT) has played a key part in shaping both the repertoire of proteins required for osmotrophy and the nature of public goods interactions in which eukaryotic microorganisms engage.

FUNGI; OOMYCETES; BACTERIAL transformation; EXTRACELLULAR enzymes; PUBLIC goods

Nature Reviews Microbiology, 2013, Vol 11, Issue 10, p720

1740-1526

Academic Journal

10.1038/nrmicro3108