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Mating-based Overexpression Library Screening in Yeast
Published on: July 6, 2018
Rapid screen of human genes for relevance to cancer using fission yeast
Kyung-Sook Chung1, Young-Joo Jang, Nam-Soon Kim
1Laboratory of Human Genome, KRIBB, Daejeon, Korea.
Abstract:
A total of 437 human full-length cDNAs isolated by microarray analysis of liver and/or gastric cancer tissues were evaluated for their relevance to cancer using the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe. Overexpression of 161 human cDNAs in S. pombe caused growth inhibition and/or morphological changes, which can be considered as cancer-related phenotypes of S. pombe. Sixteen genes causing growth defects and morphological changes at the same time were chosen to validate their ostensible oncogenic properties. They were highly expressed in liver and/or gastric cancer cell lines. Also, when the mouse embryonic fibroblast cell type NIH3T3 was transfected with these genes, the proliferation rates of cells were increased by 32% to 120%. This study demonstrates that fission yeast can be used as an advantageous and powerful tool for the rapid screening of human genes relevant to cancer. Furthermore, the human genes screened can be tested further as diagnostic markers and potential therapeutic targets for liver and stomach cancers. They also can be studied further for the elucidation of mechanisms involved in carcinogenesis.
Insights
This study used fission yeast to screen human genes for cancer relevance. Researchers identified 16 genes that, when overexpressed, showed cancer-like effects in yeast and increased cell proliferation in mice, suggesting potential cancer markers and therapeutic targets.
Area of Science:
- Molecular Biology
- Genetics
- Cancer Research
Background:
- Cancer research involves identifying genes that contribute to disease development.
- Screening large numbers of human genes for cancer relevance is challenging.
- Fission yeast (Schizosaccharomyces pombe) offers a model system for functional genomics.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the utility of fission yeast for rapid screening of human cancer-related genes.
- To identify novel human genes with oncogenic properties.
- To validate identified genes as potential diagnostic markers and therapeutic targets for liver and gastric cancers.
Main Methods:
- Microarray analysis identified 437 human full-length cDNAs from liver and gastric cancer tissues.
- Overexpression of cDNAs in Schizosaccharomyces pombe assessed for cancer-related phenotypes (growth inhibition, morphological changes).
- Sixteen candidate genes were further validated by expression analysis in cancer cell lines and proliferation assays in NIH3T3 cells.
Main Results:
- Overexpression of 161 human cDNAs in S. pombe induced cancer-related phenotypes.
- Sixteen genes consistently caused growth defects and morphological changes.
- These 16 genes were highly expressed in cancer cell lines and increased NIH3T3 cell proliferation by 32-120%.
Conclusions:
- Fission yeast serves as a powerful and advantageous tool for rapid screening of human cancer-related genes.
- The identified genes represent potential diagnostic markers and therapeutic targets for liver and stomach cancers.
- Further studies can elucidate the mechanisms of carcinogenesis involving these genes.
