Detecting patterns of protein distribution and gene expression in silico

• Published in: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences - PNAS 1999-03, Vol.96 (6), p.2937-2942
• Main Authors: Geraghty, M.T, Bassett, D, Morrell, J.C, Gatto, G.J. Jr, Bai, J, Geisbrecht, B.V, Hieter, P, Gould, S.J
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Algorithms; Biological Sciences; computer software; context sensitive motif searches algorithm; cosmos algorithm; Fatty acids; Fluorescence; gene expression; Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal; Genes; Genes, Fungal; genetic regulation; Genetics; Genome, Fungal; Genomes; identification; Medical genetics; messenger RNA; Microbodies - genetics; Microscopy; mutants; oleate-regulated genes; oleate-response element; oleic acid; Open reading frames; peroxisomal proteins; peroxisomal targeting signal; Peroxisomes; promoter regions; protein transport; Proteins; Saccharomyces cerevisiae; Saccharomyces cerevisiae - genetics; screening; Sequence Analysis, DNA - methods; signal peptide; Software; Yeast; Yeasts
• ISSN: 0027-8424; 1091-6490
• DOI: 10.1073/pnas.96.6.2937

Most biological information is contained within gene and genome sequences. However, current methods for analyzing these data are limited primarily to the prediction of coding regions and identification sequence similarities. We have developed a computer algorithm, CoSMoS (for context sensitive motif searches), which adds context sensitivity to sequence motif searches. CoSMoS was challenged to identify genes encoding peroxisome-associated and oleate-induced genes in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Specifically, we searched for genes capable of encoding proteins with a type 1 or type 2 peroxisomal targeting signal and for genes containing the oleate-response element, a cis-acting element common to fatty acid-regulated genes. CoSMoS successfully identified 7 of 8 known oleate-regulated genes. More importantly, CoSMoS identified an additional 18 candidate peroxisomal proteins and 300 candidate oleate-regulated genes. Preliminary localization studies suggest that these include at least 10 previously unknown peroxisomal proteins. Phenotypic studies of selected gene disruption mutants suggests that several of these new peroxisomal proteins play roles in growth on fatty acids, one is involved in peroxisome biogenesis and at least two are required for synthesis of lysine, a heretofore unrecognized role for peroxisomes. These results expand our understanding of peroxisome content and function, demonstrate the utility of CoSMoS for context-sensitive motif scanning, and point to the benefits of improved in silico genome analysis.