Gene duplication is a major source of functional diversification. However, the co-existence of two paralogues with similar biochemical properties but diverging functions can lead to potentially detrimental competition between the duplicates. This phenomenon has been named “paralogue interference”. In a recent article published in “Frontiers in cellular infection and microbiology, the “genetics networks” team of LCQB has addressed this question in the human pathogen Candida glabrata. They showed that evolution selected mutations which decreased competition between two, potentially interfering, transcription factors, thus allowing the emergence of the particular modes of regulation for respiration and iron homeostasis observed in extent Saccharomycetaceae species.
