SGER:Developing High Throughput Protein Network Analysis to Determine the Function of Unknown Rice Genes

Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spg Hbr NY

Investigators

Abstract

The goal of this project is to explore the use of high-throughput proteomics to determine gene function based on the cellular interaction network of an encoded protein. It is appropriate for a Small Grant for Exploratory Research because it "ventures into emerging and potentially transformative research ideas". Specifically, methods will be developed by which the protein: protein interactions of rice genes of unknown function can be determined. This information will allow identification which protein(s) with known cellular role(s) interact with a given unknown protein, and will therefore will link the unknown protein to that cellular function. The information will be captured in a publicly available database. The data will also allow construction of broadly based protein interaction maps of rice. Graduate raining will be provided in areas that will combine genome sequence analysis with protein interaction analysis. Such skills will be crucial as the community grapples with integrating these disparate, large datasets. In addition, the approached developed could create a paradigm shift that could have a significant impact in defining a new strategy for analyzing complex plant genomes. The data resulting from the work will be available at: http://www.cshl.edu/genseq/riceproteome.