Systematic genetic interaction screens uncover cell polarity regulators and functional redundancy

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • Bruno Thomas Fievet - (Author)
  • Josana Rodriguez - (Author)
  • Sundar Naganathan - (Author)
  • Christine Lee - (Author)
  • Eva Zeiser - (Author)
  • Takao Ishidate - (Author)
  • Masaki Shirayama - (Author)
  • Stephan Grill - , Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics (Author)
  • Julie Ahringer - (Author)

Abstract

Although single-gene loss-of-function analyses can identify components of particular processes, important molecules are missed owing to the robustness of biological systems. Here we show that large-scale RNAi screening for suppression interactions with functionally related mutants greatly expands the repertoire of genes known to act in a shared process and reveals a new layer of functional relationships. We performed RNAi screens for 17 Caenorhabditis elegans cell polarity mutants, generating the most comprehensive polarity network in a metazoan, connecting 184 genes. Of these, 72% were not previously linked to cell polarity and 80% have human homologues. We experimentally confirmed functional roles predicted by the network and characterized through biophysical analyses eight myosin regulators. In addition, we discovered functional redundancy between two unknown polarity genes. Similar systematic genetic interaction screens for other biological processes will help uncover the inventory of relevant genes and their patterns of interactions.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)103-112
Number of pages10
JournalNature cell biology
Volume15
Issue number1
Publication statusPublished - Jan 2013
Peer-reviewedYes
Externally publishedYes

External IDs

PubMed 23242217

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas