Experimental evolution of yeast shows that public-goods upregulation can evolve despite challenges from exploitative non-producers.

ABSTRACT: Microbial secretions, such as metabolic enzymes, are often considered to be cooperative public goods as they are costly to produce but can be exploited by others. They create incentives for the evolution of non-producers, which can drive producer and population productivity declines. In response, producers can adjust production levels. Past studies suggest that while producers lower production to reduce costs and exploitation opportunities when under strong selection pressure from non-producers, they overproduce secretions when these pressures are weak. We challenge the universality of this trend with the production of a metabolic enzyme, invertase, by Saccharomyces cerevisiae, which catalyses sucrose hydrolysis into two hexose molecules. Contrary to past studies, overproducers evolve duri

SUBMITTER: Lindsay RJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11379824 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature