Distinct horizontal gene transfer potential of extracellular vesicles versus viral-like particles in marine habitats

• DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-57276-w
• Publication Date: 2025-03-03T10:49:45Z
• Authors: Steven J. Biller; M. Gray Ryan; Jasmine Li; Andrew Burger; John M. Eppley; Thomas Hackl; Edward F. DeLong
• Keywords: Extracellular Vesicles; Horizontal Gene Transfer; Gene transfer

Horizontal gene transfer (HGT) is enabled in part through the movement of DNA within two broad groups small (<0.2 µm), diffusible nanoparticles: extracellular vesicles (EVs) and virus-like particles (VLPs; including viruses, agents, phage satellites). The information enclosed these structures represents a substantial portion HGT potential available planktonic ecosystems, but whether some genes might be preferentially transported one type nanoparticle versus another unknown. Here we use long-read sequencing to compare genetic content EVs VLPs from oligotrophic North Pacific. Fractionated EV-enriched VLP-enriched subpopulations contain diverse surrounding microbial community, differ their capacity encoded functions. sequences carried by both particle types are enriched mobile elements (MGEs) as compared with other cellular chromosomal regions, highlight how this property enables novel MGE discovery. Examining Pelagibacter mobilome reveals >7200 distinct fragments MGEs, many differentially partitioned between VLPs. Together results suggest that distinctions contents contribute mode trajectory networks evolutionary dynamics natural habitats. Biller et al. fractionated ocean nanoparticles, showing pools thus may horizontal ocean.