Gene Function Analysis

This volume of Methods in Molecular Biology focuses on techniques to determine the function of a gene. Traditionally, the function of a gene was determined following cloning, which provided its DNA sequence and an ab- ity to modify this sequence. Experiments were performed that looked for p- notypic changes in a cell line or model organism following modifications to the sequence, knocking out of the gene, or enhancing expression of the gene. In the 1990’s, the growing sequence databases and the BLAST algorithm provided additional power by allowing identification of genes with known function that had similar sequences and potentially similar molecular mechanisms. On the experimental side, methods, such as two-hybrid screening that could directly determine the partners of specific proteins and even the domains of interaction, came into widespread use. With the advent of high-throughput technologies following completion of the human genome project and similar projects in model organisms, the n- ber of genes of interest has expanded and the traditional methods for gene fu- tion analysis cannot achieve the throughput necessary for large-scale exploration. Although computational tools such as BLAST remain a good point of departure, it is often the case that a gene that appears interesting in a hi- throughput experiment shows no obvious similarity to a gene of known fu- tion. In addition, when BLAST does find a similar gene, the process has often only begun.

With the advent of high-throughput technologies, the number of genes of interest has expanded and the traditional methods for gene function analysis cannot achieve the throughput necessary for large-scale exploration. In Gene Function Analysis, a select team of experts bring together a number of recently developed techniques for studying gene function.  The volume begins with a variety of computational techniques, which provide an excellent point of departure for the cutting-edge experimental methods that follow.  Written in the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology™ series format, each chapter surveys its subject with readily reproducible laboratory protocols, a list of the necessary materials, and the popular Notes section, which contains tips for troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls.

Comprehensive and timely, Gene Function Analysis offers researchers a clear guide and the important tools they need to further study the intricate human genome.