High-dimensional and large-scale phenotyping of yeast mutants

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2005 Dec 27;102(52):19015-20. doi: 10.1073/pnas.0509436102. Epub 2005 Dec 19.

Abstract

One of the most powerful techniques for attributing functions to genes in uni- and multicellular organisms is comprehensive analysis of mutant traits. In this study, systematic and quantitative analyses of mutant traits are achieved in the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae by investigating morphological phenotypes. Analysis of fluorescent microscopic images of triple-stained cells makes it possible to treat morphological variations as quantitative traits. Deletion of nearly half of the yeast genes not essential for growth affects these morphological traits. Similar morphological phenotypes are caused by deletions of functionally related genes, enabling a functional assignment of a locus to a specific cellular pathway. The high-dimensional phenotypic analysis of defined yeast mutant strains provides another step toward attributing gene function to all of the genes in the yeast genome.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Actins / chemistry
  • Cell Nucleus / metabolism
  • Fungal Proteins / genetics
  • Gene Deletion
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal
  • Genes, Fungal*
  • Genetic Techniques
  • Genome, Fungal
  • Genomics
  • Microscopy, Fluorescence
  • Models, Genetic
  • Mutation
  • Open Reading Frames
  • Phenotype
  • Recombination, Genetic
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae / genetics*
  • Time Factors
  • Yeasts / genetics*

Substances

  • Actins
  • Fungal Proteins