The Pristionchus pacificus genome provides a unique perspective on nematode lifestyle and parasitism

Item Type:	Article
Title:	The Pristionchus pacificus genome provides a unique perspective on nematode lifestyle and parasitism
Creators Name:	Dieterich, C. and Clifton, S.W. and Schuster, L.N. and Chinwalla, A. and Delehaunty, K. and Dinkelacker, I. and Fulton, L. and Fulton, R. and Godfrey, J. and Minx, P. and Mitreva, M. and Roeseler, W. and Tian, H. and Witte, H. and Yang, S.P. and Wilson, R.K. and Sommer, R.J.
Abstract:	Here we present a draft genome sequence of the nematode Pristionchus pacificus, a species that is associated with beetles and is used as a model system in evolutionary biology. With 169 Mb and 23,500 predicted protein-coding genes, the P. pacificus genome is larger than those of Caenorhabditis elegans and the human parasite Brugia malayi. Compared to C. elegans, the P. pacificus genome has more genes encoding cytochrome P450 enzymes, glucosyltransferases, sulfotransferases and ABC transporters, many of which were experimentally validated. The P. pacificus genome contains genes encoding cellulase and diapausin, and cellulase activity is found in P. pacificus secretions, indicating that cellulases can be found in nematodes beyond plant parasites. The relatively higher number of detoxification and degradation enzymes in P. pacificus is consistent with its necromenic lifestyle and might represent a preadaptation for parasitism. Thus, comparative genomics analysis of three ecologically distinct nematodes offers a unique opportunity to investigate the association between genome structure and lifestyle.
Keywords:	Amino Acid Sequence, Caenorhabditis elegans, Chromosome Mapping, Molecular Evolution, Exons, Helminth Genes, Helminth Genome, Host-Parasite Interactions, Intestines, Introns, Molecular Sequence Data, Nematoda, Phylogeny, Amino Acid Sequence Homology, Animals, Beetles
Source:	Nature Genetics
ISSN:	1061-4036
Publisher:	Nature Publishing Group
Volume:	40
Number:	10
Page Range:	1193-1198
Date:	October 2008
Official Publication:	https://doi.org/10.1038/ng.227
PubMed:	View item in PubMed

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