A Flurry of Folding Problems: An Interview with Susan Lindquist
2011
Interview with Susan Lindquist on Protein Folding and Prions
publication
Author Information
Author(s): Jane Gitschier
Primary Institution: University of California San Francisco
Hypothesis
How do chaperones and remodeling proteins promote rapid evolutionary change in response to environmental stresses?
Conclusion
Susan Lindquist's work suggests that prions and chaperones play significant roles in protein folding and can influence evolutionary change.
Supporting Evidence
- Prions can provide a survival advantage by allowing cells to express new traits in response to stress.
- Hsp90 acts as a buffer for genetic variation, releasing it under stress to create new phenotypes.
- Transient overexpression of Hsp104 can switch yeast cells back to a non-prion state.
Takeaway
This interview discusses how certain proteins can change their shape to help cells adapt to stress, which might help them survive and evolve.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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