中文摘要：

微量元素指需要量很少（人体中含量在0．01％以下），但却是所有生物体所必需的元素。它们参与了生物体中各种复杂的生物过程，因此不同生物必须依赖相应的微量元素才能生存。过去大量的工作主要放在微量元素代谢通路和微量元素结合蛋白的实验研究上，由此凸显出微量元素对生命的重要性。然而，微量元素的计算生物学研究工作却非常有限。着重介绍当前利用比较基因组学的理论和方法来研究不同微量元素的利用、代谢、功能和进化方面问题的最新进展。对于所讨论的元素，大多数利用它们的蛋白已经基本确定，并且这些蛋白对于特定元素的依赖性也是非常保守的。通过比较基因组学分析，有助于帮助我们进一步认识微量元素领域很多基本问题（如在古菌、细菌和真核生物中的代谢、功能和动态进化规律等）及其重要特征。

英文摘要：

Biological trace elements are needed in small quantities （e.g., less than 0.01% of human body weight）, but are used by all living organisms. They are employed by organisms in key functions in a variety of biological processes, resulting in the dependence of organisms on various trace elements. Much effort has previously been placed on experimental studies of trace element utilization pathways and trace element-dependent proteins, whichhighlight the importance of these elements for life; however, computational analyses of trace elements have been limited. In this review, we focus on current advances in comparative genomics of different trace elements, which explore evolution and function of their utilization. For these elements discussed here, most proteins that use these elements are well characterized and their dependence on a specific element is evolutionarily conserved. Thus, comparative genomics analyses provide a foundation for investigating the general features of fundamental properties such as utilization, functions, and evolutionary dynamics of trace elements in archaea, bacteria and eukaryotes.