WEST Australian researchers can now access a new state of the art technology capable of identifying whole networks of genes potentially involved in a disease process.

The technique known as a genome wide short hairpin ribonucleic acid (shRNAs) screening is available to local scientists seeking to investigate a broad range of disease types and cell functions.

Researchers can now identify whole networks of genes potentially involved in a disease process.
Image: Istockphoto

The opportunity to use the technology follows the creation of the WA node of the Australian Phenomics Network based at the Western Australian Institute for Medical Research.

WAIMR senior researcher and WA node coordinator Louise Winteringham says the APN has set up nodes at various universities and institutes around Australia.

 “Each node has expertise in a specific technique which is made available as a service to all Australian researchers with the overall aim of characterising the phenotype of different mouse disease models,” she said.

Over the past five years results from genome wide RNA interference (RNAi) high throughput screens in both drosophila and mammal cultured cells have led to the identification of new therapeutic targets.

Significantly they have also provided insights into the complexity of biological systems, forcing new and innovative approaches to understanding functional networks in cells.

Previously says Dr Winteringham researchers used whole genome over-expression screens to identify genes that changed expression due to a specific treatment or disease.

“For example if you take normal blood cells and leukemic blood cells, you can determine which genes are differentially regulated and may therefore contribute to leukemia,” she said.

“This RNAi screening allows you to knock down each gene individually and determine if it contributes to the phenotype you’re interested in.

“If we want to look at phenotypes involved with melanoma such as overgrowth or migration of cells you can use this screening strategy to identify specific genes or groups of genes contributing to these traits.

“By knocking down each gene you can determine the contribution of specific genes to a particular trait.”

Dr Winteringham says the real power of this technique is its ability to identify numerous genes that may work together in a network to regulate a cellular process.

“It’s really quite amazing as it allows you to do this in a really very short period of time,” she said. 

“The key thing is that it starts by identifying a trait associated with a disease and asks which genes may be contributing to that phenotype instead of starting with a gene and asking what the function of that gene is.”

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