About the Functional Genomics Project

We are using the whole genome sequence of E. coli K-12 strain MG1655 to address how the over 4000 genes of this organism act together to enable its survival in a wide range of environments. At least something can now be said about the function of ~80% of the genes, but their full biological role and the regulatory pathways that control their expression is only beginning to be probed.

E. coli Movies As part of a study of E. coli carbon source utilization*, we have examined cell motility using video microscopy of log phase cultures. Movies (.mpeg files) of cultures grown in MOPS minimal medium supplemented with six different carbon sources are available for downloading:
    MG1655 grown on glucose (2.26 MB)
    MG1655 grown on glycerol (2.65 MB)
    MG1655 grown on succinate (2.60 MB)
    MG1655 grown on alanine (2.71 MB)
    MG1655 grown on acetate (3.10 MB)
    MG1655 grown on proline (3.39 MB)

* this study has now been published: M. Liu, T. Durfee, J. E. Cabrera, K. Zhao, D. J. Jin, and F. R. Blattner (2005) Global transcriptional programs reveal a carbon source foraging strategy by Escherichia coli. J Biol Chem 280(16): 15921-15927 [PubMed]

 

To aid in constructing a comprehensive biological framework for E. coli, we are developing genome-wide resources and data sets for use by the community. Resources include:

A set of archive clones with each ORF cloned in a standard vector.

Systematic mutagenesis: A strain collection consisting of a mutant in every gene.

DNA microarray experiments of wild type and mutants under different conditions.

Phenotypic analysis of each mutant strain.

Protocols and recipes used in each project above.

Partial list of essential genes in E. coli

For more information about the K-12 MG1655 strain, see strain information.


For more information about our approach to this project, see this Overview of the E. coli Functional Genomics Project (an html version of a powerpoint presentation).

 

 


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