Abstract
Horizontal gene transfer (HGT), an important evolutionary mechanism observed in prokaryotes, is the transmission of genetic material across phylogenetically distant species. In recent years, the availability of complete genomes has facilitated the comprehensive analysis of HGT and highlighted its emerging role in the adaptation and evolution of eukaryotes. Endophytes represent an ecologically favored association, which highlights its beneficial attributes to the environment, in agriculture and in healthcare. The HGT phenomenon in endophytes, which features an important biological mechanism for their evolutionary adaptation within the host plant and simultaneously confers “novel traits” to the associated microbes, is not yet completely understood. With a focus on the emerging implications of HGT events in the evolution of biological species, the present review discusses the occurrence of HGT in endophytes and its socio-economic importance in the current perspective. To our knowledge, this review is the first report that provides a comprehensive insight into the impact of HGT in the adaptation and evolution of endophytes.
Highlights
Horizontal gene transfer (HGT) refers to the transmission of genetic material across the genomes of biological organisms by processes other than fertilization
Events in endophytes, and their potential applications in environmental and agricultural research. These studies include arsenic hyperaccumulation in endophytic bacteria [28], endophyte-mediated toluene degradation and growth promotion in T. durum, Z. mays, and B. cepacia [25], and toluene phytoremediation through endophytic bacteria [88]. These studies demonstrate that investigation of HGT events in endophytes highlights their potential in conferring novel traits to either of the associated species, suggesting important ecological and biotechnological implications
The study of HGT in eukaryotic genomes has become feasible, leading to the discovery of genes linked with HGT in different taxonomic groups of eukaryotes [36]
Summary
Horizontal gene transfer (HGT) refers to the transmission of genetic material across the genomes of biological organisms by processes other than fertilization. HGT is a universal phenomenon observed in bacterial, fungal, and eukaryotic genomes [1,2] It occurs infrequently and only serves as an alternative process for the exchange of genetic material between distantly related species. Information about whole prokaryotic genomes has made it convenient to study HGT between distantly related species [8], in terms of organismal evolution and ecological adaptation for survival [9,10]. The HGT phenomenon in endophytes, which highlights an important biological mechanism for their evolutionary adaptation within the host plant and simultaneously confers “novel traits” to the associated microbes, remains less studied. HGT has been observed across different species, the implications of HGT occurring from a plant to its associated endophytic microbe presents an important and alternative process for addressing ecological and social concerns through environment-friendly approaches.
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