Tracking down cellular gene functions with AI and microscopy

Scientists have developed a new technology called SPARCS, which combines artificial intelligence, microscopy, and genetic screening to study how individual genes influence cell appearance and behavior. Led by researchers from LMU, the Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, and Helmholtz Munich, SPARCS enables the screening of millions of genetically modified cells to identify complex visual features and isolate individual cells of interest.

In a study published in the journal Cell, the researchers used SPARCS to screen 70 million cells for changes caused by genetic alterations. Applying artificial intelligence to analyze microscopy images of these cells, they identified a large proportion of genes already known to regulate autophagy, a cellular recycling process. Additionally, SPARCS discovered new genes involved in this process.

The technology also revealed that the acidity of the Golgi apparatus, regulated by the protein GPHR, is crucial for the early transport of STING, a key sensor of the innate immune system.

By isolating intact cells, researchers were then able to analyze their protein composition using mass spectrometry, allowing for precise characterization of the effects of genetic changes at the molecular level. This study demonstrates how SPARCS, through its integration of AI and scalable image-based genetic screening, offers new opportunities to systematically investigate genes and advance biological discovery.