Adaptive Evolution by Optimizing Expression Levels in Different Environments.
From: National Center for Biotechnology Information, National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20894, USA. madanm@ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Trends in microbiology
- Publish Date: Jan 2006
- ISSN: 0966-842X
- Volume: 14
- Issue: 1
- Pages: 11-4
- Medium: Print
- Language: English
- Citation (JAMA): Babu M Madan, Aravind L, et al. Adaptive Evolution by Optimizing Expression Levels in Different Environments.. Trends Microbiol. Jan 2006;14:11-4
Abstract
Organisms adapt to environmental changes through the fixation of mutations that enhance reproductive success. A recent study by Dekel and Alon demonstrated that Escherichia coli adapts to different growth conditions by fine-tuning protein levels, as predicted by a simple cost-benefit model. A study by Fong et al. showed that independent evolutionary trajectories lead to similar adaptive endpoints. Initial mutations on the path to adaptation altered the mRNA levels of numerous genes. Subsequent optimization through compensatory mutations restored the expression of most genes to baseline levels, except for a small set that retained differential levels of expression. These studies clarify how adaptation could occur by the alteration of gene expression.
Mesh Headings (Keywords): Bacteria, Environment, Evolution, Molecular, Models, Biological, Mutation
Check for Full Text / PubMed Unique Identifier (PMID): 16356718
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