Title: Where proteins go to die
Description: Microbiologists have long focused on transcription as a main source of physiological regulation in bacterial adaptation. However, the time scale on which certain cellular responses must be coordinated dictates that a more rapid system be in place to deal with sudden environmental stresses. In eukaryotes, understanding the proteasome and ubiquitin-tagging has led to an appreciation for protein turnover as a mechanism for rapid adaptation.