Cited by 60Fungal and yeast genetics researchChromosomal and Genetic VariationsMicrotubule and mitosis dynamics

A Double-Edged Sword: Aneuploidy is a Prevalent Strategy in Fungal Adaptation

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Tsai, Hung-Ji, Nelliat, Anjali·2019·Genes

Abstract

Aneuploidy, a deviation from a balanced genome by either gain or loss of chromosomes, is generally associated with impaired fitness and developmental defects in eukaryotic organisms. While the general physiological impact of aneuploidy remains largely elusive, many phenotypes associated with aneuploidy link to a common theme of stress adaptation. Here, we review previously identified mechanisms and observations related to aneuploidy, focusing on the highly diverse eukaryotes, fungi. Fungi, which have conquered virtually all environments, including several hostile ecological niches, exhibit widespread aneuploidy and employ it as an adaptive strategy under severe stress. Gambling with the balance between genome plasticity and stability has its cost and in fact, most aneuploidies have fitness defects. How can this fitness defect be reconciled with the prevalence of aneuploidy in fungi? It is likely that the fitness cost of the extra chromosomes is outweighed by the advantage they confer under life-threatening stresses. In fact, once the selective pressures are withdrawn, aneuploidy is often lost and replaced by less drastic mutations that possibly incur a lower fitness cost. We discuss representative examples across hostile environments, including medically and industrially relevant cases, to highlight potential adaptive mechanisms in aneuploid yeast.

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  • Despite initial susceptibility to drug, heteroresistant subpopulations can expand during therapy, partially due to antifungal exposure, characterized as emergence of resistance-related genetic mutations, and clinically as relapse or progression of infection.

    “Despite initial susceptibility to the drug, heteroresistant subpopulations can expand during therapy, partially due to antifungal exposure, characterized as the emergence of resistance-related genetic mutations, and clinically as relapse or progression of the infection [110,151,152,153].”

    From Insight into the Mechanisms and Clinical Relevance of Antifungal Heteroresistance (2025) · cites this paper as [151]

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  • The reversibility of aneuploidy offers a dynamic mechanism for fungi to balance adaptation and stability, in the population and for individuals.

    “Importantly, its reversibility offers a dynamic mechanism for fungi to balance adaptation and stability, in the population and for individuals [151,155].”

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Authors
Tsai, H.-J., & Nelliat, A.
Affiliations
  • Johns Hopkins University (US)
  • Harvard University (US)
Corresponding author
Tsai, Hung-Ji
Venue
Genes
Publisher
MDPI AG
Published
2019-10-10
Volume
10
Issue
10
Pages
787
ISSN
2073-4425 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2979378156
Cited by
60
References
119
Citations by year
2026: 12 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 7 · 2023: 11 · 2022: 7 · 2021: 11 · 2020: 8
FWCI
0.57
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Genes (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
  • University of Birmingham Research Portal (University of Birmingham) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
Funders
  • Harvard University
  • Gustavus Adolphus College
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Fungal and yeast genetics research
  • Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Plant Science › Chromosomal and Genetic Variations
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Cell Biology › Microtubule and mitosis dynamics
Keywords
aneuploidy, fungi, stress adaptation, fitness cost, genome plasticity, genome stability, chromosome loss, chromosomal gains, adaptive evolution, environmental stress tolerance
MeSH terms
Adaptation, Physiological, Aneuploidy, Fungi, Polymorphism, Genetic, Genome, Fungal, Ecosystem

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