Horizontal gene transfer from plant to whitefly

Article Multidisciplinary Sciences

Genome-edited powdery mildew resistance in wheat without growth penalties

Shengnan Li et al.

Summary: Disruption of susceptibility genes in crops can confer disease resistance, but often leads to undesired effects. This study identifies a mutant wheat variety with a targeted deletion in a specific gene that retains crop growth and yields while conferring robust resistance to powdery mildew.

NATURE (2022)

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Article Biochemistry & Molecular Biology

HGT is widespread in insects and contributes to male courtship in lepidopterans

Yang Li et al.

Summary: Horizontal gene transfer (HGT) is a significant evolutionary force that plays a crucial role in insect adaptation. In this study, we systematically analyzed 218 high-quality insect genomes and identified 1,410 genes acquired through HGT from non-metazoan donors. Lepidopterans had the highest number of HGT-acquired genes. Genes with introns showed higher expression levels, suggesting the involvement of intron gains in HGT adaptation. Additionally, we successfully edited a prevalent but previously unreported HGT-acquired gene in diamondback moths, which was found to affect courtship behavior.

CELL (2022)

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Article Evolutionary Biology

Multiple Horizontal Acquisitions of Plant Genes in the Whitefly Bemisia tabaci

Clement Gilbert et al.

Summary: Recent studies have discovered 49 plant-like genes in the genome of the Middle East Asia Minor 1 (MEAM1) whitefly, which are likely acquired through multiple horizontal gene transfer events. These genes play a significant role in the evolution and adaptation of the whitefly to different host plants.

GENOME BIOLOGY AND EVOLUTION (2022)

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Article Biochemistry & Molecular Biology

Whitefly hijacks a plant detoxification gene that neutralizes plant toxins

Jixing Xia et al.

Summary: Plants produce toxic secondary metabolites to defend themselves, but many plants are still eaten by insects. The whitefly has acquired a gene through horizontal gene transfer that enables it to neutralize plant defenses, enhancing its resistance. This study reveals an evolutionary mechanism where herbivores use the genetic toolkit of host plants to develop resistance to plant defenses.

CELL (2021)

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Article Multidisciplinary Sciences