Inference and interrogation of a coregulatory network in the context of lipid accumulation in Yarrowia lipolytica

Abstract

System biology: gene regulatory network for lipid production Bioinformatics allow us to get new insight in yeast gene regulation for the biological production of lipid-derived industrial compounds. This work, led by Jean-Marc Nicaud and Mohamed Elati from the INRA and University of Evry, aimed to identify the gene regulatory network and new regulatory elements associated with lipid production in Yarrowia lipolytica, a yeast of industrial interest. Using context-specific gene expression data and a data mining approach, the team was able to build a model of gene regulation from which they identified the main regulators as well as the cooperative relationships between them. These predictions were then confirmed experimentally. Additionally, the team managed to determine different stages of lipid production using a new measure of regulator activity: the influence. These tools will be useful to model and design industrial yeast for various applications.