Project Links

1.	Genetic Networks: Large-Scale Mapping of Synthetic Lethal Interactions
	a.	Mapping Genetic Interaction Networks
	b.	Genetic Interaction Data - Imaging, Processing, and Analysis
	c.	Temperature Sensitive Conditional Mutant Collection
	d.	Modeling Genetic Networks
2.	Sigma Deletion Mutant Collection
3.	High-Content Cell Biology
4.	Chemical-Genetics
	a.	Comparing Chemical-Genetic & Genetic Interaction Networks
	b.	Barcoded Yeast Gene Library: Drug-Resistant Mutants and Dosage Suppression
5.	Mapping Protein-Protein Interaction Networks for Peptide Recognition Modules

Genetic Networks:
Temperature Sensitive Conditional Mutant Collection

Collaborative Project with Brenda Andrews' Lab

People

Zhijian Li, Sondra Bahr, Ermira Shuteriqi

Our initial efforts focused on the identification of genetic interactions between non-essential genes. Based on these studies, we estimated that the complete yeast synthetic genetic network will comprise ~100,000 interactions. However, our subsequent studies revealed the importance of essential gene interactions and suggested that systematic identification of these interactions will likely augment network density to ~200,000 interactions [Davierwala et al, 2005].

In order to map genetic interactions for essential genes efficiently and ultimately increase network resolution, we are creating a collection of conditional alleles of essential genes, specifically temperature sensitive (ts) alleles in the S288c deletion mutant genetic background. From ~280 laboratories, we collected ~1300 ts alleles covering ~650 essential yeast genes. Using a PCR-based homologous recombination strategy, we amplified each ts allele and integrated it into the genome of BY4741 (MATa, his3D1 leu2D ura3D0 met15D0 ) such that each allele is marked with a kanamycin resistance gene (kan^R).

To date, we have constructed ~800 ts allele strains representing ~500 essential genes, accounting for ~45% of all essential genes in yeast. The array of ts yeast strains is healthy at the permissive temperature (22°C) but many colonies fail to grow at the restrictive temperature (35°C) (Fig 5). The ts array can be used for scoring genetic interactions as well as high copy suppression analysis.