Yeast gene of unknown function YGL081W is involved in DNA damage response

This study aimed to better characterize gene of unknown function <i>YGL081W</i> in <i>Saccharomyces cerevisiae.</i> Bioinformatic analysis revealed that <i>YGL081W</i> possesses a forkhead associated (FHA) domain, known to be involved in DNA repair and cell cycle arrest. Furthermore, <i>YGL081W</i> was predicted to interact with genes involved in cell cycle regulation and its expression changed during mitotic stress. <i>YGL081W</i> knockout cells grew modestly better than wild type under normal growth conditions, grew significantly less than wild type when exposed to UV light, and grew no differently than wild type in the presence of hydroxyurea. Collectively, these data suggest <i>YGL081W</i> is involved in mediating the DNA damage response in <i>S. cerevisiae.</i>