Hirose Jun
Department of Applied Chemistry, Faculty of Engineering, University of Miyazaki, Miyazaki 889-2192, Japan.
Microorganisms. 2023 Feb 9;11(2):438. doi: 10.3390/microorganisms11020438.
Integrative and conjugative elements (ICEs) are mobile DNA molecules that can be transferred through excision, conjugation, and integration into chromosomes. They contribute to the horizontal transfer of genomic islands across bacterial species. ICEs carrying genes encoding aromatic compound degradation pathways are of interest because of their contribution to environmental remediation. Recent advances in DNA sequencing technology have increased the number of newly discovered ICEs in bacterial genomes and have enabled comparative analysis of their evolution. The two different families of ICEs carry various aromatic compound degradation pathway genes. ICE and its related ICEs contain a number of members with diverse catabolic capabilities. In addition, the Tn family, which includes ICEs that carry the chlorinated biphenyl catabolic pathway, has been identified. It is apparent that they underwent evolution through the acquisition, deletion, or exchange of modules to adapt to an environmental niche. ICEs have the property of both stability and mobility in the chromosome. Perspectives on the use of ICEs in environmental remediation are also discussed.
整合与接合元件（ICEs）是可通过切除、接合以及整合到染色体中进行转移的移动DNA分子。它们有助于基因组岛在细菌物种间的水平转移。携带编码芳香族化合物降解途径基因的ICEs因其对环境修复的作用而备受关注。DNA测序技术的最新进展增加了细菌基因组中新发现的ICEs数量，并使得对其进化进行比较分析成为可能。这两类不同的ICEs家族携带各种芳香族化合物降解途径基因。ICE及其相关的ICEs包含许多具有不同分解代谢能力的成员。此外，还鉴定出了Tn家族，其中包括携带多氯联苯分解代谢途径的ICEs。显然，它们通过模块的获得、缺失或交换进行进化以适应环境生态位。ICEs在染色体中具有稳定性和移动性。本文还讨论了ICEs在环境修复中的应用前景。
