title: Monoculture breeds poor social skills.
abstract: Two studies from Jarosz et al. describe how [GAR(+)], a protein-based epigenetic determinant found mainly in wild yeast strains, can be activated by microbial cross-kingdom communication. With the aid of genetically and ecologically diverse bacteria, yeast can override an ancient regulatory mechanism of glucose repression, promoting both microbial diversity and lifespan extension.
authors.affiliation: Kent Fungal Group, School of Biosciences, University of Kent, Canterbury, Kent CT2 7NJ, UK. Electronic address: g.l.staniforth@kent.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Gemma L
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Staniforth
authors.affiliation: Kent Fungal Group, School of Biosciences, University of Kent, Canterbury, Kent CT2 7NJ, UK. Electronic address: m.f.tuite@kent.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Mick F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Tuite
mesh_terms: D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic; D011328:Prions / Q000378:metabolism*; D012441:Saccharomyces cerevisiae / Q000378:metabolism*; D041181:Staphylococcus hominis / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D011328:Prions