Post-Genomic Networking of Information: Now that the complete DNA sequences of many geneomes are known research efforts focus again on gene function. Definitions of function need to integrate diverse information on the biochemistry, regulation, cell biology, organismal biology, and evolutionary significance of each gene. An information wheel is diagrammed below to help consider this problem.
	Networking of scientific and biotechnological information leading to understanding of gene function. In the post-genomic world of science, reverse-genetic approaches dominate; investigations often move from DNA and protein sequence (center hub) to understanding of function and evolutionary significance of genes and proteins (outer circle). Genomic sequence information is at the heart of these approaches and can be used as the starting point for examinations of biochemical, genetic, regulatory, response, cell biological, organismal, or evolutionary phenomena. Networking such information from multiple biotechnical approaches (spokes) will lead to a broader understanding of gene function and more successful application of information to real world problems. There are obvious relationships among: first, proteomics, cDNA arrays, and antibodies assays for differential gene expression; second, immunological tools, cell biology, and GFP fusions; and third, ectopic expression, mutant analysis, genetic complementation and suppression, and cellular phenotypes. But scientific and biotechnical connections among more distant approaches are needed to fully understand function. For example, we need to better understand relationships among parameters of protein function (e.g. Km, the parameter reflecting the affinity of enzyme for substrate when the rate of substrate binding to enzyme is much slower than the rate of product binding; and Vm, the maximum reaction velocity or substrate turnover rate for an enzyme), enzyme specificity and cell biology; protein sequence, protein structure, and subcellular location; subcellular location of a protein and cellular phenotype; microarray data and rates of synthesis (Ks) and turnover (Kd); and finally changes in gene expression and evolutionary forces acting on the viability and fertility of the organism, and the survival of meiotic products (gametes).

Meagher et al., 2002

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