Lateral gene transfer phenomenon is an important factor that should be considered during the utilization of GMOs as food sources since the transfer of antibiotic or pesticide resistance genes to bacteria can give rise to drug resistant strains. But what is the rate of nucleotide intake of a bacterium typically found in the gut compared to the rate of hydolysis of the nucleotides by the nucleases? Also, do bacteria secrete out nucleases into the intestinal tracks?
ps: not a coursework question from the uni, question just came to my mind recently but i couldn't find any publications to relieve my curiosty.
Hi Culfa,
Bacteria normally do not transport or intake nucleotides, except obligate intracellular species. They can do it with nucleosides or nucleic acid bases. The reason is a mystery, however they can sense nucleotides in the media. Take a look:
Haferkamp I, Schmitz-Esser S, Linka N, Urbany C, Collingro A, Wagner M, Neuhaus HE (2004) A candidate NAD+ transporter in an intracellular bacterial symbiont related to Chlamydiae. Nature 432: 622-625
Linka N, Hurka H, Lang BF, Burger G, Winkler HH, Stamme C, Urbany C, Seil I, Kusch J, Neuhaus HE (2003) Phylogenetic relationship of non-mitochondrial nucleotide transport proteins in bacteria and eukaryotes. Gene 306: 27-35
Hope this help.
Alex
Hello!
Thank you very much for the feedback. Now I also realize that my approach to the issue wasn't the best at all since it wouldn't be very likely for the bacteria to take nucleotides or small fragments of nucleic acids and build up, let's say, antibiotic resistance cassettes but i did find some interesting papers about the natural competence abilities of bacteria under different circumstances. perhaps this could be a better approach.
Thank you again!
- Badges
- Science topic
- Similar topics
- Biological Science
- Molecular Biology
- Biomolecules
- Nucleic Acids