The integron/gene cassette system: an active player in bacterial adaptation

Maurizio Labbate*, Rebecca Josephine Case, Hatch W. Stokes

*Corresponding author for this work

    Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

    95 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    The integron includes a site-specific recombination system capable of integrating and expressing genes contained in structures called mobile gene cassettes. Integrons were originally identified on mobile elements from pathogenic bacteria and were found to be a major reservoir of antibiotic-resistance genes. Integrons are now known to be ancient structures that are phylogenetically diverse and, to date, have been found in approximately 9% of sequenced bacterial genomes. Overall, gene diversity in cassettes is extraordinarily high, suggesting that the integron/gene cassette system has a broad role in adaptation rather than being confined to simply conferring resistance to antibiotics. In this chapter, we provide a review of the integron/gene cassette system highlighting characteristics associated with this system, diversity of elements contained within it, and their importance in driving bacterial evolution and consequently adaptation. Ideas on the evolution of gene cassettes and gene cassette arrays are discussed.

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)103-125
    Number of pages23
    JournalMethods in molecular biology (Clifton, N.J.)
    Volume532
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 2009

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