Journal
TRENDS IN CELL BIOLOGY
Volume 20, Issue 3, Pages 125-133Publisher
ELSEVIER SCIENCE LONDON
DOI: 10.1016/j.tcb.2009.12.003
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Funding
- National Science Foundation (NSF)
- Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG)
- G. Harold & Leila Y. Mathers Foundation
- NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF GENERAL MEDICAL SCIENCES [R01GM025874] Funding Source: NIH RePORTER
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Prions are fascinating but often misunderstood protein aggregation phenomena. The traditional association of the mammalian prion protein with disease has overshadowed a potentially more interesting attribute of prions: their ability to create protein-based molecular memories. In fungi, prions alter the relationship between genotype and phenotype in a heritable way that diversifies clonal populations. Recent findings in yeast indicate that prions might be much more common than previously realized. Moreover, prion-driven phenotypic diversity increases under stress, and can be amplified by the dynamic maturation of prion-initiating states. In this article, we suggest that these qualities allow prions to act as 'bet-hedging' devices that facilitate the adaptation of yeasts to stressful environments, and might speed the evolution of new traits.
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