Latent evolutionary potentials under the neutral mutational drift of an enzyme.

ABSTRACT: Biological systems exhibit mutational robustness, or neutrality, whereby the impact of mutations is minimized. Does neutrality hamper their ability to adapt in the face of changing environments? We monitored changes in genotype and phenotype that occur within a neutral mutational network of an enzyme, experimentally and computationally (see accompanying article). Using the enzyme PON1 as a model, we performed random mutagenesis and purifying selection to purge deleterious mutations. We characterized approximately 300 variants that are apparently neutral, or close to neutral, with respect to PON1's levels of expression and native lactonase activity. Their activities with promiscuous substrates and ligands indicated significant changes in adaptive potentials. Almost half of the variants exhi

SUBMITTER: Amitai G 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2645560 | biostudies-literature | 2007 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature