Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42263676›Full record

ArticleCell2026

Prion-based protein self-assembly tunes mutagenesis to enable rapid adaptation.

Alexandria Van Elgort, Christopher M Jakobson, Yiwen R Chen, James S Byers, Raymond A Futia, Thomas M Lozanoski, Zachary H Harvey, Jinglin L Xie, David M Garcia, Daniel F Jarosz

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Cell, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Alexandria Van ElgortDepartment of Chemical and Systems Biology, Stanford University School of Medicine, 269 Campus Drive, Stanford, CA 94305, USA.
Christopher M JakobsonDepartment of Chemical and Systems Biology, Stanford University School of Medicine, 269 Campus Drive, Stanford, CA 94305, USA.
Yiwen R ChenDepartment of Chemical and Systems Biology, Stanford University School of Medicine, 269 Campus Drive, Stanford, CA 94305, USA.
James S ByersDepartment of Developmental Biology, Stanford University School of Medicine, 269 Campus Drive, Stanford, CA 94305, USA.
Raymond A FutiaDepartment of Biology, Stanford University, 371 Serra Mall, Stanford, CA 94305, USA.
Thomas M LozanoskiDepartment of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Shriram Center 443 Via Ortega, Stanford, CA 94305, USA.
Zachary H HarveyDepartment of Chemical and Systems Biology, Stanford University School of Medicine, 269 Campus Drive, Stanford, CA 94305, USA.
Jinglin L XieDepartment of Chemical and Systems Biology, Stanford University School of Medicine, 269 Campus Drive, Stanford, CA 94305, USA.
David M GarciaDepartment of Chemical and Systems Biology, Stanford University School of Medicine, 269 Campus Drive, Stanford, CA 94305, USA.
Daniel F JaroszDepartment of Chemical and Systems Biology, Stanford University School of Medicine, 269 Campus Drive, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Department of Developmental Biology, Stanford University School of Medicine, 269 Campus Drive, Stanford, CA 94305, USA. Electronic address: jarosz@stanford.edu.

Funding

GENETICS TRAINING PROGRAM FOR PHD CANDIDATEST32GM007790 · NIGMS · STANFORD UNIVERSITY · PI BRUNET, ANNE, KINGSLEY, DAVID M · 1985 to 2020
$12.8M
Investigating protein phase separation and aggregation in age dependent human diseaseR01AG086495 · NIA · STANFORD UNIVERSITY · PI Daniel Jarosz · 2024 to 2026
$3.6M
Protein-based Molecular Memories in Gene Regulation, Disease, and DevelopmentDP2GM119140 · NIGMS · STANFORD UNIVERSITY · PI JAROSZ, DANIEL · 2015 to 2015
$2.4M
Mechanisms of Action of Natural Genetic VariationR01HG012366 · NHGRI · STANFORD UNIVERSITY · PI Daniel Jarosz · 2023 to 2026
$1.5M
Molecular Pharmacology Training GrantT32GM113854 · NIGMS · STANFORD UNIVERSITY · PI MOCHLY-ROSEN, DARIA · 2015 to 2019
$1.1M
Understanding and targeting non-genetic mechanisms of drug resistanceK99AI169076 · NIAID · STANFORD UNIVERSITY · PI XIE, JING LIN · 2023 to 2024
$242k
Using self-templating proteins to spatiotemporally organize biochemistryF32GM125162 · NIGMS · STANFORD UNIVERSITY · PI JAKOBSON, CHRISTOPHER MATTHEW · 2017 to 2019
$179k
Heritable protein aggregation affecting genome preservation and RNA regulationF32GM109680 · NIGMS · STANFORD UNIVERSITY · PI GARCIA, DAVID M. · 2014 to 2016
$111k
NHGRI NIH HHS R01 HG012366NIAID NIH HHS K99 AI169076NIA NIH HHS R01 AG086495NIGMS NIH HHS DP2 GM119140NIGMS NIH HHS F32 GM109680NIGMS NIH HHS F32 GM125162NIGMS NIH HHS T32 GM007790NIGMS NIH HHS T32 GM113854
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Mutations supply the raw material for evolution, yet because most are neutral or deleterious, elevated mutation rates are typically transient. Nonetheless, modeling predicts that a mechanism for heritable but reversible "mutagenesis switches" would be advantageous in some selective contexts. Here, we report that frequent prion-based switching of DNA repair and recombination proteins alters mutagenesis in Saccharomyces cerevisiae populations from diverse ecological niches, including the laboratory and clinic, providing adaptive benefits in short-term evolution under strong selective pressure. Self-templating protein assembly alters the activities and interactions of multiple DNA-fidelity factors, reshaping adaptive outcomes while maintaining resilience to genotoxic stress. In the WHO priority pathogen Candida albicans, which diverged from S. cerevisiae ∼300 million years ago, a key regulator of prion inheritance accelerates the rapid emergence of fluconazole resistance. These findings suggest that protein self-assembly can generate epigenetic memory that tunes genome diversification over multiple generations, enabling rapid adaptation in challenging environments.

Indexed as

MutagenesisPrionsSaccharomyces cerevisiaeAdaptation, PhysiologicalCandida albicansDNA DamageDNA RepairDrug Resistance, FungalFluconazoleSaccharomyces cerevisiae ProteinsFluconazolePrionsSaccharomyces cerevisiae ProteinsadaptabilityC. albicanschemotherapeuticDNA damagedrug resistanceevolutionFANCMgenome stabilitymutagenesisprions

Identifiers

PMID42263676
PMCPMC13293528

What OpenQuestion holds

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Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.