title: Is Hsp90 a regulator of evolvability?
abstract: In a recent paper, Rutherford and Lindquist (1998. Nature 396:336-342) identified mutations in the Hsp90 protein that act to unmask hidden genetic variation with a variety of phenotypic effects. The Hsp90 protein has a number of properties that suggest a role in regulating the expression of genetic variation and therefore in adjusting the evolvability of the organism. In this paper we reflect upon the evolutionary feasibility of such mechanisms and suggest some possible ways of testing the adaptation-for-evolvability hypothesis in more detail. We conclude that Hsp90 holds promise as a molecular model system for the evolution of evolvability. J. Exp. Zool. ( Mol. Dev. Evol. ) 285:116-118, 1999.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut 06520-8106, USA. Gunter.wagner@yale.edu
authors.forename: G P
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Wagner
authors.forename: C H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Chiu
authors.forename: T F
authors.initials: TF
authors.lastname: Hansen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005075:Biological Evolution; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D014644:Genetic Variation; D018841:HSP90 Heat-Shock Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology*; D008957:Models, Genetic; D009154:Mutation; D010641:Phenotype
chemical_list: D018841:HSP90 Heat-Shock Proteins