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ODELAY: A Large-scale Method for Multi-parameter Quantification of Yeast Growth
Published on: July 3, 2017
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Yeast growth plasticity is regulated by environment-specific multi-QTL interactions
Aatish Bhatia1, Anupama Yadav2, Chenchen Zhu3
1Department of Physics and Astronomy, Rutgers University, Piscataway, New Jersey 08854.
G3 (Bethesda, Md.)
|January 30, 2014
Summary
Yeast growth plasticity, or phenotypic plasticity, is influenced by carbon sources. This study identified quantitative trait loci (QTL) and gene-environment interactions that regulate yeast growth adaptation to different environments.
Area of Science:
- Genetics
- Molecular Biology
- Yeast Biology
Background:
- Carbon sources are critical nutrients and signaling molecules for Saccharomyces cerevisiae.
- Environmental adaptability, or phenotypic plasticity, is advantageous for yeast growth.
- Understanding the genetic basis of phenotypic plasticity is key to yeast adaptation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify quantitative trait loci (QTL) controlling phenotypic plasticity in yeast growth.
- To investigate gene-environment interactions affecting yeast growth rate and biomass across different carbon sources.
- To uncover novel genetic interactions contributing to growth plasticity.
Main Methods:
- Measuring growth rate and biomass in meiotic recombinants of divergent yeast strains.
- Performing gene-environment interaction mapping across various carbon sources.
- Utilizing multi-QTL analysis to detect interacting loci and epistasis.
Main Results:
- Several QTL were identified that differentially affect growth across environments, with some showing antagonistic effects.
- Multi-QTL analysis revealed interactions with known growth QTL and novel two-QTL interactions.
- A QTL with no independent effect significantly altered growth through two-QTL interactions.
Conclusions:
- Environment-specific epistatic interactions are significant contributors to yeast growth plasticity.
- Targeted scans for epistatic interactions can elucidate mechanisms regulating phenotypic plasticity.
- This research provides insights into the genetic architecture of adaptation in yeast.
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