Joakim Näsvall
Researcher at Department of Medical Biochemistry and Microbiology; Infection and Immunity; Joakim Näsvall
- Mobile phone:
- +46 70 697 22 36
- E-mail:
- joakim.nasvall@imbim.uu.se
- Visiting address:
- BMC
Husargatan 3
752 37 UPPSALA - Postal address:
- Box 582
751 23 UPPSALA
- ORCID:
- 0000-0002-6831-3105
Research
Evolution of new genes
Our research focuses on a very fundamental question in evolutionary biology; how new genes come into existence and how they evolve. A new gene can appear in a genome by three different routes: (A) Horizontal (lateral) gene transfer, where a gene is transferred from another organism. (B) De novo evolution, where a previously non-functional DNA sequence acquires a function. (C) Duplication-divergence, where a copy of a duplicated ancestral gene acquires a new function. Our current research mainly deals with duplication-divergence.
We use experimental evolution and genetic methods in bacterial model systems for studying how gene duplication and amplification, neutral mutations, functional trade-offs and other factors influence the appearance of new functions and their further evolution. We are also interested in other questions like evolution of the components of the translational apparatus and the genetic code.

Publications
Selection of publications
Collateral toxicity limits the evolution of bacterial Release Factor 2 towards total omnipotence
Part of Molecular biology and evolution, p. 2918-2930, 2020
- DOI for Collateral toxicity limits the evolution of bacterial Release Factor 2 towards total omnipotence
- Download full text (pdf) of Collateral toxicity limits the evolution of bacterial Release Factor 2 towards total omnipotence
Part of Frontiers in Microbiology, 2020
- DOI for Synonymous mutations in rpsT lead to ribosomal assembly defects that can be compensated by mutations in fis and rpoA
- Download full text (pdf) of Synonymous mutations in rpsT lead to ribosomal assembly defects that can be compensated by mutations in fis and rpoA
Genetic adaptation to growth under laboratory conditions in Escherichia coli and Salmonella enterica
Part of Frontiers in Microbiology, 2018
- DOI for Genetic adaptation to growth under laboratory conditions in Escherichia coli and Salmonella enterica
- Download full text (pdf) of Genetic adaptation to growth under laboratory conditions in Escherichia coli and Salmonella enterica
Part of Molecular biology and evolution, p. 704-718, 2018
- DOI for Experimental Determination and Prediction of the Fitness Effects of Random Point Mutations in the Biosynthetic Enzyme HisA
- Download full text (pdf) of Experimental Determination and Prediction of the Fitness Effects of Random Point Mutations in the Biosynthetic Enzyme HisA
Part of PLOS ONE, 2017
- DOI for Direct and Inverted Repeat stimulated excision (DIRex): Simple, single-step, and scar-free mutagenesis of bacterial genes
- Download full text (pdf) of Direct and Inverted Repeat stimulated excision (DIRex): Simple, single-step, and scar-free mutagenesis of bacterial genes
Part of Nucleic Acids Research, 2017
- DOI for Duplication-Insertion Recombineering: a fast and scar-free method for efficient transfer of multiple mutations in bacteria
- Download full text (pdf) of Duplication-Insertion Recombineering: a fast and scar-free method for efficient transfer of multiple mutations in bacteria
Evolution of New Functions De Novo and from Preexisting Genes
Part of Cold Spring Harbor Perspectives in Biology, 2015
Real-Time Evolution of New Genes by Innovation, Amplification, and Divergence
Part of Science, p. 384-387, 2012
Activation of cryptic aminoglycoside resistance in Salmonella enterica
Part of Molecular Microbiology, p. 1464-1478, 2011
Recent publications
Collateral toxicity limits the evolution of bacterial Release Factor 2 towards total omnipotence
Part of Molecular biology and evolution, p. 2918-2930, 2020
- DOI for Collateral toxicity limits the evolution of bacterial Release Factor 2 towards total omnipotence
- Download full text (pdf) of Collateral toxicity limits the evolution of bacterial Release Factor 2 towards total omnipotence
Part of Frontiers in Microbiology, 2020
- DOI for Synonymous mutations in rpsT lead to ribosomal assembly defects that can be compensated by mutations in fis and rpoA
- Download full text (pdf) of Synonymous mutations in rpsT lead to ribosomal assembly defects that can be compensated by mutations in fis and rpoA
Part of Frontiers in Microbiology, 2020
- DOI for Mutational Pathways and Trade-Offs Between HisA and TrpF Functions: Implications for Evolution via Gene Duplication and Divergence
- Download full text (pdf) of Mutational Pathways and Trade-Offs Between HisA and TrpF Functions: Implications for Evolution via Gene Duplication and Divergence
Selection for novel metabolic capabilities in Salmonella enterica
Part of Evolution, p. 990-1000, 2019
- DOI for Selection for novel metabolic capabilities in Salmonella enterica
- Download full text (pdf) of Selection for novel metabolic capabilities in Salmonella enterica
Part of Journal of Biological Chemistry, p. 11481-11490, 2018
- DOI for Structural mechanism of AadA, a dual specificity aminoglycoside adenylyltransferase from Salmonella enterica
- Download full text (pdf) of Structural mechanism of AadA, a dual specificity aminoglycoside adenylyltransferase from Salmonella enterica
All publications
Articles in journal
Collateral toxicity limits the evolution of bacterial Release Factor 2 towards total omnipotence
Part of Molecular biology and evolution, p. 2918-2930, 2020
- DOI for Collateral toxicity limits the evolution of bacterial Release Factor 2 towards total omnipotence
- Download full text (pdf) of Collateral toxicity limits the evolution of bacterial Release Factor 2 towards total omnipotence
Part of Frontiers in Microbiology, 2020
- DOI for Synonymous mutations in rpsT lead to ribosomal assembly defects that can be compensated by mutations in fis and rpoA
- Download full text (pdf) of Synonymous mutations in rpsT lead to ribosomal assembly defects that can be compensated by mutations in fis and rpoA
Part of Frontiers in Microbiology, 2020
- DOI for Mutational Pathways and Trade-Offs Between HisA and TrpF Functions: Implications for Evolution via Gene Duplication and Divergence
- Download full text (pdf) of Mutational Pathways and Trade-Offs Between HisA and TrpF Functions: Implications for Evolution via Gene Duplication and Divergence
Selection for novel metabolic capabilities in Salmonella enterica
Part of Evolution, p. 990-1000, 2019
- DOI for Selection for novel metabolic capabilities in Salmonella enterica
- Download full text (pdf) of Selection for novel metabolic capabilities in Salmonella enterica
Part of Journal of Biological Chemistry, p. 11481-11490, 2018
- DOI for Structural mechanism of AadA, a dual specificity aminoglycoside adenylyltransferase from Salmonella enterica
- Download full text (pdf) of Structural mechanism of AadA, a dual specificity aminoglycoside adenylyltransferase from Salmonella enterica
Genetic adaptation to growth under laboratory conditions in Escherichia coli and Salmonella enterica
Part of Frontiers in Microbiology, 2018
- DOI for Genetic adaptation to growth under laboratory conditions in Escherichia coli and Salmonella enterica
- Download full text (pdf) of Genetic adaptation to growth under laboratory conditions in Escherichia coli and Salmonella enterica
Part of Molecular biology and evolution, p. 704-718, 2018
- DOI for Experimental Determination and Prediction of the Fitness Effects of Random Point Mutations in the Biosynthetic Enzyme HisA
- Download full text (pdf) of Experimental Determination and Prediction of the Fitness Effects of Random Point Mutations in the Biosynthetic Enzyme HisA
Part of PLOS ONE, 2017
- DOI for Direct and Inverted Repeat stimulated excision (DIRex): Simple, single-step, and scar-free mutagenesis of bacterial genes
- Download full text (pdf) of Direct and Inverted Repeat stimulated excision (DIRex): Simple, single-step, and scar-free mutagenesis of bacterial genes
Part of Nucleic Acids Research, 2017
- DOI for Duplication-Insertion Recombineering: a fast and scar-free method for efficient transfer of multiple mutations in bacteria
- Download full text (pdf) of Duplication-Insertion Recombineering: a fast and scar-free method for efficient transfer of multiple mutations in bacteria
Structural and functional innovations in the real-time evolution of new (βα)8 barrel enzymes
Part of Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, p. 4727-4732, 2017
- DOI for Structural and functional innovations in the real-time evolution of new (βα)8 barrel enzymes
Evolution of antibiotic resistance without antibiotic exposure
Part of Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, 2017
- DOI for Evolution of antibiotic resistance without antibiotic exposure
- Download full text (pdf) of Evolution of antibiotic resistance without antibiotic exposure
Compensating the fitness costs of synonymous mutations
Part of Molecular biology and evolution, p. 1461-1477, 2016
- DOI for Compensating the fitness costs of synonymous mutations
- Download full text (pdf) of Compensating the fitness costs of synonymous mutations
Part of Journal of Biological Chemistry, p. 24657-24668, 2015
Structure of AadA from Salmonella enterica: a monomeric aminoglycoside (3'')(9) adenyltransferase
Part of Acta Crystallographica Section D, p. 2267-2277, 2015
- DOI for Structure of AadA from Salmonella enterica: a monomeric aminoglycoside (3'')(9) adenyltransferase
- Download full text (pdf) of Structure of AadA from Salmonella enterica: a monomeric aminoglycoside (3'')(9) adenyltransferase
Minor Fitness Costs in an Experimental Model of Horizontal Gene Transfer in Bacteria
Part of Molecular biology and evolution, p. 1220-1227, 2014
Real-Time Evolution of New Genes by Innovation, Amplification, and Divergence
Part of Science, p. 384-387, 2012
Activation of cryptic aminoglycoside resistance in Salmonella enterica
Part of Molecular Microbiology, p. 1464-1478, 2011
Articles, review/survey
Evolution of New Functions De Novo and from Preexisting Genes
Part of Cold Spring Harbor Perspectives in Biology, 2015
Manuscripts (preprints)
Synonymous mutations that reduce S20 levels can be compensated by mutations in fis and rpoA
Functional trade-offs during evolution of new functions in the HisA-TrpF system
Experimental evolution of novel metabolic capabilities in Salmonella enterica
Ribosomal protein L1 is required for balanced formation of ribosomal subunits
Crystal structure of AadA at 2.5 Å resolution - an aminoglycoside 3" adenyltransferase
Intermittent selection directs evolution of a specialist enzyme to become a generalist