Project: Role of horizontal gene transfer (HGT) in adaptation to anaerobiosis
Research group: Čepicka
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Horizontal gene transfer (HGT) involves transfer of genes between unrelated organisms. Recent studies indicate that HGT is an important source of evolutionary novelties in microbial eukaryotes and provides the capacity to adapt to new environments. However, importance of HGT for eukaryotic evolution and evolution of anaerobiosis is still subject of heated debate. The proposed project follows comprehensive transcriptomic and genomic analyses of strategically sampled representatives of Heterolobosea, a deep-branching eukaryotic group that includes at least three free-living, facultatively or obligately anaerobic lineages. Using Heterolobosea as a model group, the student will examine the role of horizontally acquired genes in the evolution of anaerobiosis. To illuminate functional aspects of candidate genes as well as to identify a full set of genes involved in anaerobic metabolism, the student will perform differential gene expression experiments with at least two species of facultatively anaerobic heteroloboseans in oxic, hypoxic, and anoxic conditions. Since genes involved in anaerobic metabolism are well characterized mainly in obligately anaerobic human parasites (Giardia, Trichomonas, Entamoeba) and experimental data from free-living species inhabiting more complex environments are almost entirely missing, results of the proposed project will be also an important source of data for understanding the anaerobic metabolism in general.
Deadline is closed