Isolation of genes controlling apoptosis through their effects on cell survival.
The identification of the most suitable molecular targets for gene and drug therapy is the crucial first step in the development of new disease treatments. The rational identification of such targets depends on a detailed understanding of the pathological changes occuring at the molecular level. We have applied forward genetics approaches to the identification of the critical genes involved in the control of apoptosis in mammalian cells, since defective control of apoptosis underlies many diseases, including cancer and neurodegenerative diseases. We have identified two groups of genes by their effects on cell survival using retroviral cDNA functional expression cloning and retroviral insertional mutagenesis. The identification of these novel genes opens up new areas for apoptosis research and subsequently for the development of new gene and drug therapies.
Williams
Gwyn T
GT
Institute for Science and Technology in Medicine, Huxley Building, Keele University, Keele, ST5 5BG, UK.
Hughes
Jane P
JP
Stoneman
Victoria
V
Anderson
Claire L
CL
McCarthy
Nicola J
NJ
Mourtada-Maarabouni
Mirna
M
Pickard
Mark
M
Hedge
Vanessa L
VL
Trayner
Ian
I
Farzaneh
Farzin
F