Concepedia

Systematic Genetic Analysis with Ordered Arrays of Yeast Deletion Mutants

Amy H.Y. Tong, Marie Evangelista, Ainslie B. Parsons, Hong Xu, Gary D. Bader, Nicholas F. Page, Mark D. Robinson, Sasan Raghibizadeh, Christopher W.V. Hogue, Howard Bussey,

Science · 2001 · 2.2K citations · 20 references

DOI

TL;DR

In *Saccharomyces cerevisiae*, over 80 % of the ~6,200 predicted genes are nonessential, indicating a genome buffered against phenotypic effects of genetic perturbation. The authors developed synthetic genetic array (SGA) analysis to systematically evaluate gene function by crossing a query mutation with an array of ~4,700 deletion mutants. SGA constructs double mutants by meiotic crossing; inviable progeny reveal functional relationships, and the approach is intended to generate a global map of gene function. Applying SGA to cytoskeletal, DNA repair, and uncharacterized genes identified 291 interactions among 204 genes.

Abstract

In Saccharomyces cerevisiae , more than 80% of the ∼6200 predicted genes are nonessential, implying that the genome is buffered from the phenotypic consequences of genetic perturbation. To evaluate function, we developed a method for systematic construction of double mutants, termed synthetic genetic array (SGA) analysis, in which a query mutation is crossed to an array of ∼4700 deletion mutants. Inviable double-mutant meiotic progeny identify functional relationships between genes. SGA analysis of genes with roles in cytoskeletal organization ( BNI1 , ARP2 , ARC40 , BIM1 ), DNA synthesis and repair ( SGS1 , RAD27 ), or uncharacterized functions ( BBC1 , NBP2 ) generated a network of 291 interactions among 204 genes. Systematic application of this approach should produce a global map of gene function.