SGER: A Method to Identify and Characterize Potentially Redundant Genes within the Drosophila Genome

0121111 Mahaffey对黑腹果蝇的遗传学分析使人们对动物发育和生命的许多方面的机制有了实质性的了解。 然而，尽管我们从这些研究中学到了很多，但仍有许多我们不知道的。 在检查注释基因组的初始阶段时，这一点变得令人震惊地明显，其中发现超过三分之二的果蝇基因在先前的研究中没有被识别出来。 此外，尽管已经完成了许多遗传筛查，但即使在充分研究的过程中，我们的理解仍然存在许多差距。 这可能有几个原因;一个重要的原因是，由于遗传冗余，一些基因难以通过常规遗传筛选进行分析。 考虑到具有冗余或重叠功能的基因可能具有重要作用，并且在果蝇中可能存在许多重叠基因功能的情况，我们必须开发检测和测试潜在冗余基因功能的方法，然而，过去还没有一种系统的方法来识别冗余基因。马哈菲博士将进行筛选，以识别潜在的冗余基因对在果蝇胚胎发育过程中发挥作用。 该方案涉及首先通过相似性识别潜在的候选者，然后克隆并使用原位杂交来确定表达中是否存在重叠。 最后，RNA干扰将用于确定基因对是否具有重叠作用。 为了测试这种方法的有效性，Mahaffey博士将首先选择编码锌指蛋白的候选基因对。 值得注意的是，这个项目的设计不仅限于果蝇;它应该对其他生物体中冗余基因的研究有用（当然; C。elegans，以及在其他模式生物中使用吗啉代反义程序）。

0121111MahaffeyGenetic analyses of Drosophila melanogaster have yielded substantial insight into the mechanisms governing many aspects animal development and life. However, though we have learned much from these studies, there is still much that we do not know. This became alarmingly apparent upon examining the initial phase of the annotated genome where it was found that over two thirds of Drosophila genes had not been identified from prior studies. Further, though numerous genetic screens have been completed, there are still many gaps in our understanding, even in well-studied processes. There may be several reasons for this; one significant reason is that some genes are refractory to analysis by conventional genetic screens because of genetic redundancy. Given that genes with redundant or overlapping functions are likely to have important roles, and that there may be numerous cases of overlapping gene functions in Drosophila, it is essential that we develop methods to detect and to test the function of potentially redundant genes, yet a systematic method to identify redundant genes has not been employed in the past.Dr. Mahaffey will conduct a screen to identify potentially redundant gene pairs functioning during Drosophila embryonic development. The scheme involves first identifying potential candidates by similarity, then cloning and using in situ hybridization to determine if there is overlap in expression. Finally, RNA interference will be used to determine whether or not the gene pairs have overlapping roles. To test the validity of this method, Dr. Mahaffey will initially select candidate gene pairs that encode zinc finger proteins. It is important to note that the design of this project is not limited to Drosophila; it should be useful in studies of redundant genes in other organisms (certainly; C. elegans, and in other model organisms using morpholino antisense procedures).