PUBLICATION

A gain-of-function screen in zebrafish identifies a guanylate cyclase with a role in neuronal degeneration

Authors
Maddison, L.A., Lu, J., Victoroff, T., Scott, E., Baier, H., and Chen, W.
ID
ZDB-PUB-090227-3
Date
2009
Source
Molecular genetics and genomics : MGG   281(5): 551-563 (Journal)
Registered Authors
Baier, Herwig, Chen, Wenbiao, Scott, Ethan
Keywords
Insertional mutagenesis, Forward genetic screen, Gal4-VP16, Guanylate cyclase
MeSH Terms
  • Animals
  • Animals, Genetically Modified
  • Cyclic GMP/metabolism
  • Female
  • Genetic Vectors
  • Guanylate Cyclase/genetics*
  • Hybridization, Genetic
  • Male
  • Models, Neurological
  • Moloney murine leukemia virus/genetics
  • Mutagenesis, Insertional
  • Nerve Degeneration/enzymology*
  • Nerve Degeneration/genetics*
  • Transcriptional Activation
  • Zebrafish/embryology
  • Zebrafish/genetics*
  • Zebrafish/physiology*
PubMed
19221799 Full text @ Mol. Genet. Genomics
Abstract
Manipulation of gene expression is one of the most informative ways to study gene function. Genetic screens have been an informative method to identify genes involved in developmental processes. In the zebrafish, loss-of-function screens have been the primary approach for these studies. We sought to complement loss-of-function screens using an unbiased approach to overexpress genes with a Gal4-UAS based system, similar to the gain-of-function screens in Drosophila. Using MMLV as a mutagenic vector, a cassette containing a UAS promoter was readily inserted in the genome, often at the 5' end of genes, allowing Gal4-dependent overexpression. We confirmed that genes downstream of the viral insertions were overexpressed in a Gal4-VP16 dependent manner. We further demonstrate that misexpression of one such downstream gene gucy2F, a membrane-bound guanylate cyclase, throughout the nervous system results in multiple defects including a loss of forebrain neurons. This suggests proper control of cGMP production is important in neuronal survival. From this study, we propose that this gain-of-function approach can be applied to large-scale genetic screens in a vertebrate model organism and may reveal previously unknown gene function.
Genes / Markers
Figures
Show all Figures
Expression
Phenotype
Mutations / Transgenics
Human Disease / Model
Sequence Targeting Reagents
Fish
Antibodies
Orthology
Engineered Foreign Genes
Mapping