Metabolic Coevolution in the Bacterial Symbiosis of Whiteflies and Related Plant Sap-Feeding Insects

• DOI: 10.1093/gbe/evv170
• Publication Date: 2015-09-16T20:58:44Z
• Authors: Jun-Bo Luan; Wenbo Chen; Daniel K. Hasegawa; Alvin M. Simmons; William M. Winter...; Kai-Shu Ling; Zhangjun Fei; Shu-Sheng Liu; Angela E. Douglas
• Keywords: Coevolution; Buchnera; Whitefly; Metabolic pathway; Horizontal Gene Transfer

Genomic decay is a common feature of intracellular bacteria that have entered into symbiosis with plant sap-feeding insects. This study the whitefly Bemisia tabaci and two (Portiera aleyrodidarum Hamiltonella defensa) cohoused in each host cell investigated whether Portiera metabolism genes complemented by genes, compared metabolic traits other insects (aphids, psyllids, mealybugs). Parallel genomic transcriptomic analysis revealed genome contributes multiple reactions complement or duplicate function, may contribute cofactors one essential amino acid, lysine. Homologs insect origin also been implicated acid synthesis hosts, indicative parallel coevolution shared pathways across symbioses. Further coded are bacterial origin, but phylogenetically distinct from Portiera, horizontally transferred identified Overall, 75% functionally unique to symbiosis, indicating evolutionary history integration these symbioses strongly contingent on pattern acquired genes. Our analysis, further, shows enable acquisition complex independent horizontal gene transfers exogenous bacteria. Specifically, can function pathway symbiont, while facilitating symbiont coding same reaction.