of the Max - MDC

Visualization of the UniHi interaction network. Dots represent proteins, lines their interactions. The source database of interactions
is indicated by different colours. Dark blue – MDC-Y2H; Red – Reactome; Dark green – Ophid; Light green – HomoMINT. Grey – overlapping
proteins and interactions from more than one data source.
these studies, we could identify novel pathway modulators
and provide a first protein interaction network for the MAPK
and Akt signalling pathways.
In collaboration with Prof. Marc Vidal from Harvard Medical
School, Boston, we have established a new conceptional
framework for “self-controlled” interactome mapping. Gold
standard positive (GSP) and negative (GSN) training sets of
binary protein-protein interactions were established for validation
of our interaction screening technology and repeated
Y2H interaction screens were performed under highly
controlled conditions. Criteria for future systematic interaction
mapping projects such as completeness, detectability,
coverage and specificity were defined and the size of the
human binary interactome network was calculated. We estimate
that, assuming there are about 22,000 protein-coding
genes in the genome and excluding protein isoforms, which
add complexity, the human interactome contains about 2.5
million binary interactions, the vast majority of which
remain to be mapped. We could also demonstrate that Y2H
datasets produced with full-length proteins are superior in
specificity to literature curated datasets, suggesting that
high-throughput Y2H screening is the optimal method for
mapping a significant portion of the human interactome.
This work will be the conceptional basis for an international
interactome mapping project.
Function and Dysfunction of the Nervous System 165