Epistasis analysis with global transcriptional phenotypes

Nat Genet. 2005 May;37(5):471-7. doi: 10.1038/ng1545. Epub 2005 Apr 10.

Abstract

Classical epistasis analysis can determine the order of function of genes in pathways using morphological, biochemical and other phenotypes. It requires knowledge of the pathway's phenotypic output and a variety of experimental expertise and so is unsuitable for genome-scale analysis. Here we used microarray profiles of mutants as phenotypes for epistasis analysis. Considering genes that regulate activity of protein kinase A in Dictyostelium, we identified known and unknown epistatic relationships and reconstructed a genetic network with microarray phenotypes alone. This work shows that microarray data can provide a uniform, quantitative tool for large-scale genetic network analysis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinases / genetics
  • Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinases / metabolism
  • Dictyostelium / enzymology
  • Dictyostelium / genetics*
  • Epistasis, Genetic*
  • Mutation
  • Protein Kinase C / genetics
  • Protein Kinase C / metabolism
  • Transcription, Genetic*

Substances

  • Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinases
  • Protein Kinase C