Interaction mating reveals binary and ternary connections between Drosophila cell cycle regulators.

We characterized interactions between Drosophila melanogaster cell cycle regulatory proteins by a yeast interaction-mating technique. The results were displayed as two-dimensional matrices that revealed individual binary interactions between proteins. Each protein (Cdi, cyclin-dependent kinase interactor) interacted with a distinct spectrum of cyclin-dependent kinases (Cdk) from Drosophila and other organisms. Some Cdis interacted with other Cdis, indicating that these proteins may form trimeric complexes that include Cdks. Similar analysis of interaction matrices may be generally useful in detecting other multiprotein complexes and in establishing connectivity between individual complex members. Moreover, such analysis may also help assign function to newly identified proteins, identify domains involved in protein-protein interactions, and aid the dissection of genetic regulatory networks.