An eYFP reporter gene for the yeast two-hybrid system

The yeast two-hybrid system is a powerful tool for detecting binary protein interactions, widely used in large-scale interactome mapping. We modified two yeast strains commonly used in yeast two-hybrid experiments by integrating into their genomes a new reporter gene encoding the enhanced yellow fluorescent protein eYFP. The suitability of this reporter gene for interaction screening was evaluated by fluorescence microscopy and fluorescence-activated cell sorting analysis. The gene shows good potential as a two-hybrid reporter gene for detecting strong interactions. Gal4 transcriptional activation gives rise to sufficient fluorescence for detection with a flow cytometer, but the eYFP reporter is not sensitive enough for detecting weak or moderate interactions. This study highlights the advantages of a fluorescent reporter gene in yeast two-hybrid screening.