Histone variant HTZ1 shows extensive epistasis with, but does not increase robustness to, new mutations.

ABSTRACT: Biological systems produce phenotypes that appear to be robust to perturbation by mutations and environmental variation. Prior studies identified genes that, when impaired, reveal previously cryptic genetic variation. This result is typically interpreted as evidence that the disrupted gene normally increases robustness to mutations, as such robustness would allow cryptic variants to accumulate. However, revelation of cryptic genetic variation is not necessarily evidence that a mutationally robust state has been made less robust. Demonstrating a difference in robustness requires comparing the ability of each state (with the gene perturbed or intact) to suppress the effects of new mutations. Previous studies used strains in which the existing genetic variation had been filtered by selection.

SUBMITTER: Richardson JB 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3749942 | biostudies-literature | 2013

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature