Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Letter
  • Published:

Evolutionary Advantage of Control of a Biosynthetic Pathway

Abstract

BECAUSE uncontrolled production of metabolites is rare in nature it has been concluded that the ability to regulate biosynthetic pathways confers an evolutionary advantage on a species. The advantage has been interpreted as arising from a more efficient use of energy which leads to more rapid growth in a competitive environment. The advantage gained by control of a pathway can thus be estimated by comparing the relative growth rates of two strains which are isogenic, except that one lacks control of the pathway.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Baich, A., and Pierson, D. J., Biochem. Biophys. Acta, 104, 397 (1965).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Tristram, H., and Thurston, C. F., Nature, 212, 74 (1966).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Zamenhof, S., and Eichhorn, H. H., Nature, 216. 456 (1967).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

BAICH, A., JOHNSON, M. Evolutionary Advantage of Control of a Biosynthetic Pathway. Nature 218, 464–465 (1968). https://doi.org/10.1038/218464a0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/218464a0

This article is cited by

Comments

By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.

Search

Quick links

Nature Briefing

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing