Screening for the zebrafish mutants that exhibit the abnormal expression patterns of Hox genes.

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In vertebrates, the characteristic features such as limbs and ribs were observed along the anteroposterior axis. These morphological differences along the anteroposterior axis are specified during early embryogenesis. Genetic studies in Drosophila have shown that Hox genes play a central role in this process. Several lines of accumulating evidence indicate that the identity along the anteroposterior axis is specified by the ordered expression patterns of Hox genes in Drosophila as well as vertebrates. However, the molecular mechanism how the ordered expression patterns of Hox genes along the anteroposterior axis remains poorly understood in vertebrates. In this study to isolate the mutant that exhibits the abnormal expression patterns of Hox genes. I have performed the F2 mutant screening by using zebrafish treated with ENU mutagen. So far, I identified at least 13 mutants which exhibit the abnormal development in zebrafsih. At present, I have investigated the expression patterns of several genes including Hox genes by whole-mount in situ hybridization. In addition, I proceed to perform the F2 screening for further identification of mutants.