title: Genetic suppressor screens in haploids.
abstract: As a vertebrate genetic model, the zebrafish has been well recognized for its strength in studying a variety of biological processes and human diseases. Traditional forward genetic screens in zebrafish have generated a large pool of mutants with interesting phenotypes resembling human diseases but the underlying mechanisms are not well understood. A powerful approach to elucidate the mechanisms of these mutants is the modifier screen, which identifies 2(nd)-site mutations that specifically enhance or block the phenotype of a given mutant. Here we described the first genetic suppressor screen in zebrafish, which identifies a novel transcriptional mechanism regulating erythropoiesis. In combination with the haploid genetics in zebrafish, we have shown the feasibility and strength of a modifier screen in zebrafish. This strategy will greatly broaden the utility of the zebrafish as a model for making original discoveries and establishing novel paradigms for understanding vertebrate biology.
authors.affiliation: Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
authors.forename: Xiaoying
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Bai
authors.forename: Zhongan
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Hong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: Shuo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Leonard I
authors.initials: LI
authors.lastname: Zon
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D030801:Animals, Genetically Modified; D022202:Chromosomes, Artificial, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D004252:DNA Mutational Analysis; D005038:Ethylnitrosourea / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D005808:Genes, Recessive; D016153:Genes, Suppressor; D005820:Genetic Testing / Q000379:methods*; D006238:Haploidy; D007814:Larva / Q000235:genetics; D008297:Male; D016296:Mutagenesis; D009153:Mutagens / Q000494:pharmacology; D009154:Mutation; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics; D015027:Zebrafish / Q000235:genetics*; D029961:Zebrafish Proteins / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D009153:Mutagens; D014157:Transcription Factors; D029961:Zebrafish Proteins; C507536:transcriptional intermediary factor 1gamma, zebrafish; D005038:Ethylnitrosourea