Misfolded Proteins Accelerate Yeast Evolution
Wednesday, November 26, 2008 - 11:28
in Biology & Nature
In yeast, a protein-misfolding mechanism can reveal hidden genetic variations and thus generate new phenotypes that may increase cell survival. Researchers now have demonstrated that when yeast cells are stressed, this mechanism is triggered much more often. This heightened ability to adapt to changing environments may be maintained in yeast as a way to accelerate evolutionary changes.