title: Identification of recessive maternal-effect mutations in the zebrafish using a gynogenesis-based method.
abstract: In animal species, early developmental processes are driven by maternally derived factors. Here, we describe a forward genetics approach to identify recessive mutations in genes encoding such maternal factors in the zebrafish. We used a gynogenesis-based approach to identify 14 recessive maternal-effect mutations. Homozygosity for these mutations in adult females leads to the inviability of their offspring. Confocal microscopy of embryos labeled with a DNA dye and a membrane marker allowed us to further analyze mutant embryos for defects in nuclear and cellular divisions. The mutations result in a range of defects in early developmental processes, including egg activation, early nuclear events, mitosis, cytokinesis, axial patterning, and gastrulation. Our effort constitutes a systematic attempt to identify maternal-effect genes in a vertebrate species. The sample of mutations that we have identified reflects the diversity of maternally driven functions in early development and underscores the importance of maternal factors in this process.
authors.affiliation: Max-Plank Institut für Entwicklungsbiologie, Abteilung Genetik, Tübingen, Germany. fjpelegri@wisc.edu
authors.forename: Francisco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Pelegri
authors.forename: Marcus P S
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Dekens
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Schulte-Merker
authors.forename: Hans-Martin
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Maischein
authors.forename: Catrin
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Weiler
authors.forename: Christiane
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Nüsslein-Volhard
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D019521:Body Patterning; D004625:Embryo, Nonmammalian / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D005808:Genes, Recessive; D008297:Male; D009024:Morphogenesis; D009153:Mutagens / Q000494:pharmacology; D009154:Mutation; D010641:Phenotype; D015027:Zebrafish / Q000196:embryology* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D009153:Mutagens