Diversification of budding yeast polarization dynamics after compensatory experimental evolution

Loss of the polarity gene BEM1 in budding yeast weakens and destabilizes polarization, and recovered evolved lineages show markedly altered protein dynamics, including reduced Cdc42-GTP presence.

• Why it matters: It is unclear how evolution constrains intracellular dynamics of proteins that perform essential, conserved functions, even when overall cellular recovery occurs.
• What they did: The authors followed an established evolutionary recovery trajectory after BEM1 loss and used quantitative live-cell imaging to track polarization phenotypes and protein localization dynamics.
• The result: In recovered lineages, main regulator Cdc42-GTP presence is strongly decreased and Spa2 localizes more slowly into mobile foci, implying convergence via protein-independent localization modes.

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