Development of ultra-high-density screening tools for microbial "omics".
High-throughput genetic screens in model microbial organisms are a primary means of interrogating biological systems. In numerous cases, such screens have identified the genes that underlie a particular phenotype or a set of gene-gene, gene-environment or protein-protein interactions, which are then used to construct highly informative network maps for biological research. However, the potential test space of genes, proteins, or interactions is typically much larger than current screening systems can address. To push the limits of screening technology, we developed an ultra-high-density, 6144-colony arraying system and analysis toolbox. Using budding yeast as a benchmark, we find that these tools boost genetic screening throughput 4-fold and yield significant cost and time reductions at quality levels equal to or better than current methods. Thus, the new ultra-high-density screening tools enable researchers to significantly increase the size and scope of their genetic screens.
Bioinformatics and Systems Biology Program, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, United States of America.
Gordon J
GJ
Bean
Departments of Medicine and Bioengineering, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, United States of America.
Philipp A
PA
Jaeger
Banting and Best Department of Medical Research, Terrence Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.
Sondra
S
Bahr
Departments of Medicine and Bioengineering, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, United States of America ; Institute for Genomic Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, United States of America.
Trey
T
Ideker
D000465:Algorithms; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D015966:Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal; D057166:High-Throughput Screening Assays; D009154:Mutation; D040901:Proteomics / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012441:Saccharomyces cerevisiae / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development; D029701:Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins / Q000235:genetics*
D029701:Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins