title: Reversion mutation of ib oculocutaneous albinism to wild-type pigmentation in medaka fish.
abstract: We have previously identified three naturally occurring mutations in the medaka fish tyrosinase gene caused by transposable element insertions. Tyr-i(b) is one of these, containing the Tol2 element in the promoter region. Its homozygous carriers exhibit a weak oculocutaneous albino phenotype. We report here spontaneous reversion of the albino phenotype to the wild-type pigmentation, associated with excision of the Tol2 element. The newly arising mutant gene is inherited in the Mendelian fashion. Thus, oculocutaneous albinism is not strictly irreversible, at least in this organism and the results also indicate that the insertion of the Tol2 element is the main, and possibly the only, cause of the i(b) albinism. Importantly our data also suggest that medaka fish possess an active transposase.
authors.affiliation: Division of Biological Science, Graduate School of Science, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan.
authors.forename: Atsuo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Iida
authors.forename: Naofumi
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Takamatsu
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hori
authors.forename: Yuko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wakamatsu
authors.forename: Atsuko
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Shimada
authors.forename: Akihiro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Shima
authors.forename: Akihiko
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Koga
mesh_terms: D016115:Albinism, Oculocutaneous / Q000235:genetics* / Q000662:veterinary; D000483:Alleles; D000818:Animals; D004251:DNA Transposable Elements; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D018095:Germ-Line Mutation; D006579:Heterozygote; D006720:Homozygote; D008297:Male; D014442:Monophenol Monooxygenase / Q000235:genetics*; D009990:Oryzias; D010641:Phenotype
chemical_list: D004251:DNA Transposable Elements; D014442:Monophenol Monooxygenase