Genomic disruption of six budding yeast genes gives one drastic example of phenotype strain-dependence.

Using PCR to construct disruption cassettes, null alleles of six genes have been created in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. In a FY1679 background, no defects were detected in any of the haploid deletion mutants with respect to growth, gross morphology, or mating. A diploid FY1679-derived delta ygl194c/delta ygl194c homozygous disruptant displayed reduced sporulation. In contrast to the lack of phenotypic consequences of delta yol100w disruptions in the FY1679 background, in the CEN.PK2 strain even a heterozygous disruption of the same gene caused striking effects, very slow vegetative growth and highly impaired sporulation. Tetrad analysis showed YOL100w to be an essential gene in this strain. A copy of the YGL194c or the YOL100w wild-type gene borne on a centromeric episomal plasmid was introduced into a corresponding disruption mutant strain, and in both cases was found to partially complement the defects.