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Extracellular Nucleic Acids pp 25–37Cite as

Roles of Extracellular DNA in Bacterial Ecosystem

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Part of the book series: Nucleic Acids and Molecular Biology ((NUCLEIC,volume 25))

Abstract

Extracellular DNA in the natural environment is a source of nutrients and gene pools for bacteria. In sediments and biofilms, gene transfer must occur among bacteria via extracellular DNA because the concentrations of both exogenous DNA and cells are high. Some bacteria actively release naked DNA or the membrane vesicle containing the DNA into the environment. Some bacteria also produce extracellular DNA by suicide and fratricide. Released DNA is used for DNA repair, transformation, and generation of genetic diversity. DNA is required for the initiation of biofilm formation and stabilization of biofilms. In biofilms, gene exchange and mutation must occur to generate diversity.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Environmental Science and Microbiology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Osaka-ohtani University, 3-11-1 Nishikiori-kita, Tondabayashi, Osaka, 584-0854, Japan

    Katsuji Tani

  2. Department of Environmental Science and Microbiology, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Osaka University, 1-6 Yamada-oka, Suita, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan

    Masao Nasu

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  1. Katsuji Tani
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  2. Masao Nasu
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Correspondence to Masao Nasu .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. , Dept. of Environmental and Life Sciences, Toyohashi University of Technology, Toyohashi-city, 441-8580, Japan

    Yo Kikuchi

  2. Fundamental Medicine, Institute of Chemical Biology and, Lavrentjeva Prospect 8, Novosibirsk, 630090, Russian Federation

    Elena Y. Rykova

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Tani, K., Nasu, M. (2010). Roles of Extracellular DNA in Bacterial Ecosystem. In: Kikuchi, Y., Rykova, E. (eds) Extracellular Nucleic Acids. Nucleic Acids and Molecular Biology, vol 25. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-12617-8_3

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