Context:
Researchers at the Max Planck Institute visually tracked a circular intron RNA moving from the predatory bacterium Vampirococcus archaeovorus into its archaeal prey, Methanothrix soehngenii. It provides rare direct evidence of cross-domain horizontal transfer without a viral carrier.
Explanation:
- Horizontal gene transfer (HGT) is the movement of genetic material between organisms other than through parent – offspring inheritance.
- It differs from vertical gene transfer, which occurs from parents to descendants.
- HGT commonly occurs through transformation (uptake of free DNA), transduction (virus-mediated transfer) and conjugation (direct cell-to-cell transfer).
- “Jumping genes” are mobile genetic elements capable of changing their position within a genome or moving between organisms.
- The predator’s 23S ribosomal RNA gene contains a self-splicing Group I intron – a sequence removed during RNA processing.
- After excision, the intron forms stable circular RNA, which resists degradation because it lacks exposed ends.
- Scientists used fluorescent nucleic-acid probes and microscopy to detect this RNA in the predator and dead prey cells.
- This provides direct visual evidence of RNA crossing from Bacteria to Archaea without a viral carrier.
- HGT can spread antibiotic resistance, virulence and metabolic traits, thereby accelerating microbial evolution.
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