| abstract |
The present invention relates generally to the field of genomics. More particularly, the present invention relates to methods for function-based gene discovery. Genes are identified as having or being associated with a specific function, as participating in a specific functional pathway, or as being a member of a specific functional group, by functional expression in one or more biological readout assays. This invention is based, at least in part, on the recognition that the signal-to-noise ratio of a readout assay used to screen a cDNA library can be significantly enhanced by methods which localize multiple molecular copies of each unique clone into discrete regions or compartments prior to functional expression. In one embodiment, this invention provides methods for in situ transfection of a sorted library in a 'bar-coded' vector to carry out expression of genes from libraries being screened in readout cells. It is the ability to detect a biological readout in a readout cell line which enables the user to identify genes having specific functions. The methods set forth herein are suitable for application in a high throughput format for identification of genes and their functions simultaneously. |