Developing transposon methods for insertional mutagenesis in Xenopus

描述（由申请人提供）：本提案的主要目标是开发转座子工具，以诱变热带爪蟾的基因组。最近，我们已经开发了遗传分析在非洲爪蟾这是一个令人兴奋的新途径，在这个模型系统，是独特的可操作的实验系统中研究基因功能。关键的下一步是开发有效的诱变方法。我们概述了一系列的实验，开发tol 2和piggybac转座子作为插入诱变剂在X。热带植物这些实验将证明，转座子插入诱变可以是一种有效的方式，从感兴趣的表型快速移动到基因型，促进基因功能的深入表征。我们的主要兴趣是在早期胚胎模式的形成;然而，我们在这个建议中开发的工具将在生物学的各个领域有广泛的应用。公共卫生相关性：我们基因组中大多数基因的功能仍然是个谜。为了确定它们的功能，我们必须使用模型系统，如青蛙，特别是非洲爪蟾。在这项提案中，我们将创造新的技术来确定非洲爪蟾的基因功能，从而确定人类疾病。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The main goal of this proposal is to develop transposon tools in order to mutagenize the genome of Xenopus tropicalis. Recently, we have developed genetic analysis in Xenopus which is an exciting new avenue for studying gene function in this model system that is uniquely manipulable as an experimental system. A critical next step is to develop efficient mutagenesis methods. We outline a series of experiments to develop tol2 and piggybac transposons as insertional mutagens in X. tropicalis. These experiments will demonstrate that insertional mutagenesis with transposons can be an effective way to move quickly from interesting phenotype to genotype facilitating in-depth characterization of gene function. Our major interest is in early embryonic pattern formation; however, the tools that we develop in this proposal will have a wide application in diverse fields of biology. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: The function of most genes in our genome remains a mystery. In order to determine their function, we must use model systems such as frogs specifically Xenopus. In this proposal, we will create new technologies to determine gene function in Xenopus and therefore human disease.