Yeast Gene Fitness in Microgravity from Spaceflight Screening

A genome-wide screen of ~4800 homozygous and ~5900 heterozygous yeast deletion strains cultured during spaceflight reveals genes required for survival in microgravity. The dataset, produced by NASA, compares strain fitness under spaceflight and ground conditions, with added osmotic stress. Its sensitivity profiles show high concordance with DNA-damaging agents and redox changes, suggesting mechanisms for spaceflight's negative effects on cells.

Use Cases

• Identify yeast genes essential for survival in microgravity based on fitness scores from the deletion collections.
• Compare genetic stress responses between spaceflight and ground control conditions.
• Analyze the interaction between microgravity and osmotic stress using the additive sodium chloride treatment data.
• Query genome-wide sensitivity profiles against a compendium of drug effects to infer mechanisms of spaceflight stress.
• Study the correlation between spaceflight effects and DNA damage or redox state changes suggested by the description.

Strengths

• Screens a complete collection of ~4800 homozygous and ~5900 heterozygous yeast deletion strains.
• Includes a second additive stressor (hyperosmolar sodium chloride) for comparative analysis.
• Uses molecular barcodes for unique strain identification, enabling quantitative fitness assessment.

Limitations

• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Row count is unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.
• Data format is listed as BIN, which may require specific tools for access and analysis.

Provenance

Source

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Collection Method

Experimental screening using robust hardware to culture yeast deletion collections during spaceflight.

Time Range

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Freshness

Last updated 2026-03-13 19:18:46.636504; freshness should be verified.

Geography

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