The Uppsala Yeast Resource

The Uppsala Yeast Resource is a competence center with outreach activity. Its principal aim is to help researchers in Uppsala that have little or no previous experience with yeast to use the unique advantages of this model organism in their research. The Uppsala Yeast Resource was started in 2002 as part of the Model Organism Platform within Wallenberg Consortium North (WCN). It is currently funded by the Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy at Uppsala University, and located in the Biomedical Center (BMC), at the Department of Medical Biochemistry and Microbiology (building D9 level 3).

Does your favourite gene exist in yeast?

Most genes from higher eukaryotes have homologues in yeast. In many cases, functions are strictly conserved, meaning that a human gene will function in yeast. Examples of this are the cell cycle genes and components of the basal gene expression machinery. Other genes have homologues in yeast with a similar function, though the specific biological role differs between organisms and cell types. Examples of this are the MAP kinases and other signaling pathway components.

If so, what can you learn from it?

By studying the yeast homologue, you may gain information about the function of a specific gene in your favourite organism. A wealth of information is already available on the functions and expression patterns of different yeast genes. Knockout mutations are particularly informative in yeast, since also recessive phenotypes are visible in haploid cells. In those cases where a yeast knockout mutant has a distinct phenotype, cloning of high copy number suppressors can provide a powerful way of finding other genes that interact functionally with your gene of interest.

How can we help you?

The purpose of the Uppsala Yeast Resource is to help researchers in the region to make use of yeast as a model system in their own research. The services that we provide at this point include:
 

  • Retrieval of all publicly available information concerning specific yeast genes or groups of genes. This includes classical genetic data, phenotypic data from systematic screens of knockout mutants, 2-hybrid interaction data and gene expression data from array experiments.
  • Detailed phenotypic characterization of specific knockout mutants. The Uppsala Yeast Resource has access to a complete set of yeast knockout mutants. On request, we will carry out a more detailed phenotypic analysis of individual mutants than is possible within large scale screens. The purpose of such an analysis is twofold. First, the phenotype itself may provide clues to the function of the gene, if unknown. Second, any scorable phenotype can be used as a tool in a further genetic analysis aimed at finding out the function of the gene (see point 4 below).
  • Construction of double and triple knockout mutants. Many yeast genes are duplicated or even triplicated. Such genes are not detected in classical genetic screens, nor do they reveal a phenotype in systematic screens of knockout mutant collections. It is only by constructing the relevant double or triple knockout mutant that the function of the genes can be analyzed. On request, we will make such mutants by genetic crosses from available single knockout mutants.
  • Help with setting up suppressor screens. If a given yeast knockout mutant has a scorable phenotype, it can be used to clone high copy number suppressors. This is a powerful way of finding out what other genes and proteins your favourite gene interacts with, both in yeast and in other eukaryotes. The screen is done by transforming the mutant with a yeast genomic library made in a high copy number vector. Plasmids that suppress the mutant phenotype are isolated and the responsible suppressor genes are identified. Typically, such a screen may yield genes whose products interact with your gene product, function in parallel pathways, or are regulated directly or indirectly by your gene product.
    •  

    The services of the Uppsala Yeast Resource are currently provided free of charge. However, in the event that a given project requires more expensive consumables, the user is expected to cover the cost for these.

    Who do I contact?

    Dr. Eva Murén (Eva.Muren@imbim.uu.se). Tel: 018-4714233