Journal
MOLECULAR CELL
Volume 77, Issue 2, Pages 266-+Publisher
CELL PRESS
DOI: 10.1016/j.molcel.2019.10.027
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Funding
- NIH [DP2-GM119140, 5T32GM 727642, 1K99GM128180-01]
- Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation [DRG2221-15]
- David and Lucile Packard Foundation
- National Science Foundation (NSF) [1453762]
- Div Of Molecular and Cellular Bioscience
- Direct For Biological Sciences [1453762] Funding Source: National Science Foundation
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Theory and experiments suggest that organisms would benefit from pre-adaptation to future stressors based on reproducible environmental fluctuations experienced by their ancestors, but the mechanisms driving pre-adaptation remain enigmatic. We report that the [SMAUG(+)] prion allows yeast to anticipate nutrient repletion after periods of starvation, providing a strong selective advantage. By transforming the landscape of post-transcriptional gene expression, [SMAUG(+)] regulates the decision between two broad growth and survival strategies: mitotic proliferation or meiotic differentiation into a stress-resistant state. [SMAUG(+)] is common in laboratory yeast strains, where standard propagation practice produces regular cycles of nutrient scarcity followed by repletion. Distinct [SMAUG(+)] variants are also widespread in wild yeast isolates from multiple niches, establishing that prion polymorphs can be utilized in natural populations. Our data provide a striking example of how protein-based epigenetic switches, hidden in plain sight, can establish a transgenerational memory that integrates adaptive prediction into developmental decisions.
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