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| Subject Categories: Microbiology & Pathogens |
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| The EMBO Journal
(2007) 26, 4555–4565, doi:10.1038/sj.emboj.7601876 Published online 11 October 2007 |
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| Critical roles for a genetic code alteration in the evolution of the genus Candida |
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| Raquel M Silva1, João A Paredes1, Gabriela R Moura1, Bruno Manadas2, Tatiana Lima-Costa1, Rita Rocha1, Isabel Miranda1, Ana C Gomes1, Marian J G Koerkamp3, Michel Perrot4, Frank C P Holstege3, Hélian Boucherie4 and Manuel A S Santos1 |
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1 Department of Biology and CESAM, University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal 2 Centre for Neurosciences and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal 3 Department of Physiological Chemistry, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands 4 Institut de Biochimie et Génétique Cellulaires, CNRS, Bordeaux, France To whom correspondence should be addressed Manuel A S Santos, Department of Biology, University of Aveiro, Santiago Campus, Aveiro 3810-193, Portugal. Tel.: +351234370771; Fax: +351234426408; E-mail: msantos@bio.ua.pt Received 1 March 2007; Accepted 10 September 2007; Published online 11 October 2007. |
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| Abstract |
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| During the last 30 years, several alterations to the standard genetic code have been discovered in various bacterial and eukaryotic species. Sense and nonsense codons have been reassigned or reprogrammed to expand the genetic code to selenocysteine and pyrrolysine. These discoveries highlight unexpected flexibility in the genetic code, but do not elucidate how the organisms survived the proteome chaos generated by codon identity redefinition. In order to shed new light on this question, we have reconstructed a Candida genetic code alteration in Saccharomyces cerevisiae and used a combination of DNA microarrays, proteomics and genetics approaches to evaluate its impact on gene expression, adaptation and sexual reproduction. This genetic manipulation blocked mating, locked yeast in a diploid state, remodelled gene expression and created stress cross-protection that generated adaptive advantages under environmental challenging conditions. This study highlights unanticipated roles for codon identity redefinition during the evolution of the genus Candida, and strongly suggests that genetic code alterations create genetic barriers that speed up speciation. |
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| Keywords: Candida, gene expression, genetic code alterations, mRNA mistranslation, tRNA |
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Top of page MORE ARTICLES LIKE THISThese links to content published by NPG are automatically generated RESEARCHCritical roles for a genetic code alteration in the evolution of the genus Candida The EMBO Journal Article The EMBO Journal Article (01 Mar 1997) The EMBO Journal Article (01 Apr 1999) |
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