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Critical roles for a genetic code alteration in the evolution of the genus Candida
Author(s) -
Silva Raquel M,
Paredes João A,
Moura Gabriela R,
Manadas Bruno,
LimaCosta Tatiana,
Rocha Rita,
Miranda Isabel,
Gomes Ana C,
Koerkamp Marian JG,
Perrot Michel,
Holstege Frank CP,
Boucherie Hélian,
Santos Manuel A S
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
the embo journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 7.484
H-Index - 392
eISSN - 1460-2075
pISSN - 0261-4189
DOI - 10.1038/sj.emboj.7601876
Subject(s) - genetic code , biology , genetics , gene , dna microarray , genome , evolutionary biology , codon usage bias , proteome , computational biology , gene expression
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.