This web page was produced as an assignment for Gen677 at UW-Madison Spring 2013
Mutant Phenotypes in Model Organisms
Mutant phenotypes of different genes in model organisms can be found using organism specific databases such as Flybase (fuit fly), Mouse Genome Informatics (mouse), Wormbase (C. elegans) and ZFIN (zebrafish). There are described MYO5a mutant phenotypes in mice and flies and no described phenotypes in zebrafish or C. elegans.
Mus musculus (mouse)
The following phenotypes were found using MGI with all mutations either spontaneous, radiation induced or chemically induced [2].
|
RNAi
RNA interference (RNAi) is a natural biological process where genes are turned off or knocked down through the use of double stranded RNA [5]. The double stranded RNA can be used to targeted the messenger RNA of a gene and destroyed is, thus effectively turning off expression of the gene [5]. While a natural occurring cellular mechanism RNAi has become a powerful tool in the research community by allowing scientists to selectively target gene expression and assay the resulting phenotypes [5].
There are no RNAi phenotypes described for MYO5a or its homologs in model organisms.
There are no RNAi phenotypes described for MYO5a or its homologs in model organisms.
Analysis
The MYO5a mouse phenotype is very similar to that of horses suffering from LFS. This makes them a good candidate as a model organism to study MYO5a and its role in LFS. There are no currently described mutants of MYO5a in zebrafish but they do have a very well conserved known homolog of MYO5a. Zebrafish would be a simple vertebrate model organism to work with before moving into mice as they are less expensive to maintain, are transparent early in development and have a fast generation time with large clutches.
References
[1] Flybase: A Database of Drosophila Genes and Genomes. Retrieved May 15, 2013 from http://flybase.org/
[2] MGI - Mouse Genome Informatics. Retrieved May 15, 2013 from http://www.informatics.jax.org/
[3] DBA/2J, a multipurpose neurological disease model. The Jackson Laboratory. Retrieved May 14, 2013 from http://jaxmice.jax.org/jaxnotes/512/512l.html
[4] B10.D1-Myo5a<d>/Hir. RikenBase. Retrieved May 14, 2013 from https://database.riken.jp/sw/en/B10.D1-Myo5a_d__Hir/cria315s1ria315u100000004861i/
[5] RNA Interference. Nature Reviews. Retrieved May 15, 2013 from http://www.nature.com/nrg/multimedia/rnai/index.html
[2] MGI - Mouse Genome Informatics. Retrieved May 15, 2013 from http://www.informatics.jax.org/
[3] DBA/2J, a multipurpose neurological disease model. The Jackson Laboratory. Retrieved May 14, 2013 from http://jaxmice.jax.org/jaxnotes/512/512l.html
[4] B10.D1-Myo5a<d>/Hir. RikenBase. Retrieved May 14, 2013 from https://database.riken.jp/sw/en/B10.D1-Myo5a_d__Hir/cria315s1ria315u100000004861i/
[5] RNA Interference. Nature Reviews. Retrieved May 15, 2013 from http://www.nature.com/nrg/multimedia/rnai/index.html
Rebecca Blackburn, [email protected], 5/14/13