Association network modeling from microarray data around fermentation stress response gene NSF1 (YPL230W) using significantly co-expressed gene set

NSF1 is one of the newly discovered fermentation stress response proteins that play a crucial role in the adaptation of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae to fermentation stress conditions. Using time course microarray gene expression profiles of Saccharomyces cerevisiae (DBY7286) grown in YPD media, we identified and mapped genes significantly correlated to the NSF1 expression, hence producing a framework of analysis conditioned on the NSF1 gene function. From the analysis, we developed a novel approach using clustering on the correlated variable that constructed a core set of co-expressed genes. The result is an inter-associated gene network conditioned on the expressed NSF1 gene. The complete-link clustering algorithm grouped the NSF1 associated genes into functional clusters with a high degree correspondence to known metabolic pathways. Co-expressed genes to formed distinct functional chromosomal neighborhoods.