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Emergence of trait variability through the lens of nitrogen assimilation in Prochlorococcus

Intraspecific trait variability has important consequences for the function and stability of marine ecosystems. Here we examine variation in the ability to use nitrate across hundreds of Prochlorococcus genomes to better understand the modes of evolution influencing intraspecific allocation of ecolo...

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Autores principales: Berube, Paul M, Rasmussen, Anna, Braakman, Rogier, Stepanauskas, Ramunas, Chisholm, Sallie W
Formato: Online Artículo Texto
Lenguaje:English
Publicado: eLife Sciences Publications, Ltd 2019
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6370341/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30706847
http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.41043
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author Berube, Paul M
Rasmussen, Anna
Braakman, Rogier
Stepanauskas, Ramunas
Chisholm, Sallie W
author_facet Berube, Paul M
Rasmussen, Anna
Braakman, Rogier
Stepanauskas, Ramunas
Chisholm, Sallie W
author_sort Berube, Paul M
collection PubMed
description Intraspecific trait variability has important consequences for the function and stability of marine ecosystems. Here we examine variation in the ability to use nitrate across hundreds of Prochlorococcus genomes to better understand the modes of evolution influencing intraspecific allocation of ecologically important functions. Nitrate assimilation genes are absent in basal lineages but occur at an intermediate frequency that is randomly distributed within recently emerged clades. The distribution of nitrate assimilation genes within clades appears largely governed by vertical inheritance, gene loss, and homologous recombination. By mapping this process onto a model of Prochlorococcus’ macroevolution, we propose that niche-constructing adaptive radiations and subsequent niche partitioning set the stage for loss of nitrate assimilation genes from basal lineages as they specialized to lower light levels. Retention of these genes in recently emerged lineages has likely been facilitated by selection as they sequentially partitioned into niches where nitrate assimilation conferred a fitness benefit.
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spelling pubmed-63703412019-02-15 Emergence of trait variability through the lens of nitrogen assimilation in Prochlorococcus Berube, Paul M Rasmussen, Anna Braakman, Rogier Stepanauskas, Ramunas Chisholm, Sallie W eLife Ecology Intraspecific trait variability has important consequences for the function and stability of marine ecosystems. Here we examine variation in the ability to use nitrate across hundreds of Prochlorococcus genomes to better understand the modes of evolution influencing intraspecific allocation of ecologically important functions. Nitrate assimilation genes are absent in basal lineages but occur at an intermediate frequency that is randomly distributed within recently emerged clades. The distribution of nitrate assimilation genes within clades appears largely governed by vertical inheritance, gene loss, and homologous recombination. By mapping this process onto a model of Prochlorococcus’ macroevolution, we propose that niche-constructing adaptive radiations and subsequent niche partitioning set the stage for loss of nitrate assimilation genes from basal lineages as they specialized to lower light levels. Retention of these genes in recently emerged lineages has likely been facilitated by selection as they sequentially partitioned into niches where nitrate assimilation conferred a fitness benefit. eLife Sciences Publications, Ltd 2019-02-01 /pmc/articles/PMC6370341/ /pubmed/30706847 http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.41043 Text en © 2019, Berube et al http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) , which permits unrestricted use and redistribution provided that the original author and source are credited.
spellingShingle Ecology
Berube, Paul M
Rasmussen, Anna
Braakman, Rogier
Stepanauskas, Ramunas
Chisholm, Sallie W
Emergence of trait variability through the lens of nitrogen assimilation in Prochlorococcus
title Emergence of trait variability through the lens of nitrogen assimilation in Prochlorococcus
title_full Emergence of trait variability through the lens of nitrogen assimilation in Prochlorococcus
title_fullStr Emergence of trait variability through the lens of nitrogen assimilation in Prochlorococcus
title_full_unstemmed Emergence of trait variability through the lens of nitrogen assimilation in Prochlorococcus
title_short Emergence of trait variability through the lens of nitrogen assimilation in Prochlorococcus
title_sort emergence of trait variability through the lens of nitrogen assimilation in prochlorococcus
topic Ecology
url https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6370341/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30706847
http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.41043
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