Large-scale genetic perturbations reveal regulatory networks and an abundance of gene-specific repressors

P.P.C.W. Kemmeren, K. Sameith, L.A.L. van de Pasch, J.J. Benschop, T.L. Lenstra, A. Margaritis, E. O'Duibhir, E. Apweiler, S. van Wageningen, C.W. Ko, S.A.A.C. van Heesch, M.M. Kashani, G. Ampatziadis-Michailidis, M.O. Brok, N.A.C.H. Brabers, A.J. Miles, D. Bouwmeester, S.R. van Hooff, H.H.M.J. van Bakel, E.C. SluitersL.V. Bakker, B. Snel, P. Lijnzaad, D. van Leenen, M.J.A. Groot Koerkamp, F.C.P. Holstege

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

To understand regulatory systems, it would be useful
to uniformly determine how different components
contribute to the expression of all other genes. We
therefore monitored mRNA expression genomewide,
for individual deletions of one-quarter of yeast
genes, focusing on (putative) regulators. The resulting
genetic perturbation signatures reflect many
different properties. These include the architecture
of protein complexes and pathways, identification
of expression changes compatible with viability,
and the varying responsiveness to genetic perturbation.
The data are assembled into a genetic perturbation
network that shows different connectivities for
different classes of regulators. Four feed-forward
loop (FFL) types are overrepresented, including incoherent
type 2 FFLs that likely represent feedback.
Systematic transcription factor classification shows
a surprisingly high abundance of gene-specific repressors,
suggesting that yeast chromatin is not as
generally restrictive to transcription as is often
assumed. The data set is useful for studying individual
genes and for discovering properties of an entire
regulatory system.
Original languageUndefined/Unknown
Pages (from-to)740-752
Number of pages13
JournalCell
Volume157
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2014

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