The association of group IIB intron with integrons in hypersaline environments

Abstract Background Group II introns are mobile genetic elements used as efficient gene targeting tools. They function both ribozymes and retroelements. IIC the only class reported so far to be associated with integrons. In order identify group linked integrons CALINS (cluster of att C sites lacking a neighboring integron integrase) within halophiles, we mined for in 28 assembled metagenomes from hypersaline environments publically available 104 halophilic genomes using Integron Finder followed by blast search intron reverse transcriptases (RT)s. Results We report presence different integron-related sequences denoted UHB.F1, UHB.I2, H.ha.F1 H.ha.F2. The first two were identified putative metagenome Tanatar-5 soda lake, belonging IIB classes, respectively at which was truncated intron. Other H.ha.F2 also detected CALIN extreme halophile Halorhodospira halochloris , introns. intron-encoded proteins (IEP) s belonged classes: CL1 UHB.I2 bacterial E H.ha.Fa1 A newly insertion sequence (IS Hahl1 ) IS 200/605 superfamily adjacent H. CALIN. Finally, an abundance toxin-antitoxin (TA) systems observed Conclusion So far, this is investigation environments. or CALINs. This study provides basis understanding role evolution halophiles their potential biotechnological role.