Genomic copy number variation induced by TAQing system in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

We developed an artificial genome evolution system, which we termed ‘TAQing’, by introducing multiple genomic DNA double-strand breaks using a heat-activatable endonuclease in mitotic yeast. The heat-activated endonuclease, TaqI, induced random DSBs, which resulted in diverse types of chromosomal rearrangements including translocations. Array comparative genomic hybridization (aCGH) analysis was performed with cell-fused Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains induced genome evolution by TAQing system. Some of copy number variations (CNVs) induced by massive genome rearrangements were detected in the TAQed yeast strains.