Forward Genetics to Identify Complex Gene Interactions Involved in Glaucoma

申请者描述(申请人提供)：本申请是对(08)基因组学09-EY-101：复杂眼病基因组学的回应。利用斑马鱼的正向遗传学和人类的系谱/患者DNA序列分析，我们将识别与原发性开角型青光眼相关的表型的复杂遗传交互作用。青光眼是一组以视网膜神经节细胞死亡为特征的视力损害疾病，常伴有眼压升高。青光眼是世界范围内第二大致盲原因，总患病率约为1.0%。然而，包括老年人、非裔美国人和近视患者在内的特定群体面临更大的风险。例如，40岁以上的人青光眼发病率为1.9%。在70岁以上的人中，发病率进一步增加到3.5%。在人类和哺乳动物模型系统中，传统遗传方法的复杂性和局限性阻碍了对影响青光眼的大多数基因的识别。在过去的几年里，我们开发了斑马鱼的方法和工具来检测和测量幼鱼和老年斑马鱼的青光眼相关表型。斑马鱼表现出与人类相似的眼睛解剖和生理，并高度服从大规模正向遗传筛查，以识别影响正常内稳态或导致疾病的基因和信号通路。在目前的研究中，我们建议对成年斑马鱼进行基因筛查，以确定表现为眼前节发育不全、眼压升高和/或视网膜神经节细胞变性的突变。然后，我们将使用这些突变来确定每个突变的致病基因。最后，我们将调查是否有任何基因 公共卫生相关性：该提案概述了斑马鱼中导致老年青光眼相关表型的突变的基因筛查。该筛查利用了我们最近发现的一种斑马鱼突变，这种突变导致了非病理性的眼压升高。这种突变的作用是作为一种敏感的背景或“预先处理的条件”，这将有助于识别导致致盲退化的新突变。我们将通过识别受影响的基因并对每个突变执行更详细的表型特征来进行此筛查。最后，已识别的基因将被用来解决人类青光眼中的相关基因是否受到影响。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): This application is in response to (08) Genomics 09-EY-101: Genomics of complex eye diseases. Using forward genetics in zebrafish and pedigree/patient DNA sequence analysis in humans, we will identify complex genetic interactions that contribute to phenotypes associated with primary open angle glaucoma. The glaucomas are a group of vision impairing diseases characterized by retinal ganglion cell death, and frequently associated with elevated intraocular pressure. Glaucoma is the second leading cause of blindness world-wide, with a prevalence of approximately 1.0% overall. However, specific groups including aged individuals, African-Americans, and those with myopia are at greater risk. For example, for individuals over 40 years of age the incidence of glaucoma is 1.9%. The incidence increases further to 3.5% in people over 70 years of age. The complex nature and limits of traditional genetic approaches in humans and mammalian model systems has prevented the identification of most genes that impact glaucoma. Over the past few years we have developed methodologies and tools in zebrafish to detect and measure glaucoma-associated phenotypes in both larval and aged zebrafish. Zebrafish show similar ocular anatomy and physiology to humans and are highly amenable to large-scale forward genetic screens to identify genes and signaling pathways that affect normal homeostasis or cause disease. In the current study we propose a genetic screen in adult zebrafish to identify mutants that display anterior segment dysgenesis, elevated intraocular pressure, and/or retinal ganglion cell degeneration. We will then use these mutants to identify the causative loci for each mutation. Finally, we will investigate whether any of the genes PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: The proposal outlines a genetic screen in zebrafish for mutations that result in aged adult onset glaucoma associated phenotypes. The screen takes advantage of an existing zebrafish mutation we recently identified that has non-pathological raised intraocular pressure. This mutation functions as a sensitized background or "pre-disposed condition" that will aid in identifying new mutations that result in blinding degenerations. We will follow this screen by identifying the affected genes and performing a more detailed phenotype characterization for each mutation. Finally, identified genes will be used to address whether othologous loci are affected in human glaucomas.