Commonly used auxotrophic markers

Auxotrophic markers in yeast are genetic modifications that prevent the organism from synthesizing certain essential nutrients, thereby creating a dependency on external sources for growth. These markers are often used in yeast genetics as selectable traits to identify successful transformations or mutations, as auxotrophic mutants can only grow in media supplemented with the missing nutrient. Common auxotrophic markers include mutations in genes required for amino acid or nucleotide biosynthesis, which allow genetic changes to be monitored and facilitate genetic crosses in laboratory experiments. This approach is particularly valuable in studies involving gene function, metabolic pathways, and the development of yeast strains for various applications.

The following table describes some commonly used auxotrophic markers (along with some novel useful markers); it is based on a table in Brachmann et al.] (1998) "Designer deletion strains derived from Saccharomyces cerevisiae S288C: a useful set of strains and plasmids for PCR-mediated gene disruption and other applications." Yeast 14:115-132. 

Please send e-mail to the curators at SGD at sgd-helpdesk@lists.stanford.edu if you would like to suggest additions or modifications.

The alleles listed below are described in Brachmann et al. 1998.