Revisiting bacterial phylogeny: Natural and experimental evidence for horizontal gene transfer of 16S rRNA

Current methods used for phylogenetic classification of prokaryotes largely rely on the sequences of 16S rRNA genes that are ubiquitously present in the cell. Theoretical basis of this methodology is based on the assumption that 16S rRNA genes are only vertically inherited and are thus indigenous to each species. However, microbial genomic analysis has revealed the existence of prokaryotic species containing two types of rRNA (rrn) operons of seemingly different origins. It has also been reported that some bacteria contain 16S rRNA that are mosaics of sequences from multiple species. This suggests that horizontal gene transfer (HGT) occurred for 16S rRNA genes. In addition, a recent HGT experiment mimicking the natural HGT process has shown that a wide range of foreign 16S rRNA genes can be transferred into Escherichia coli, including those from different phylogenetic classes (with a minimum sequence identity of 80.9% to the Escherichia coli 16S rRNA gene). Thus, in contrast to the complexity hypothesis that states informational genes are rarely horizontally transferred between species, 16S rRNA is occasionally amenable to HGT. Results of the current method for rapid identification and classification of prokaryotes based on the 16S rRNA gene should thus be carefully analyzed and interpreted.