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Mouse embryonic stem cells and reporter constructs to detect developmentally regulated genes.
A Gossler1, A L Joyner, J Rossant
1Mount Sinai Hospital Research Institute, Division of Molecular and Developmental Biology, Toronto, Canada.
Science (New York, N.Y.)
|April 28, 1989
Summary
Researchers developed a new method to find active genes during mouse development using lacZ reporter constructs. This approach efficiently identifies novel genes crucial for mammalian development.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Biology
- Genomics
- Molecular Genetics
Background:
- Identifying genes that control mammalian development is crucial.
- Understanding temporal and spatial gene regulation is key to developmental processes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To devise a strategy for identifying transcriptionally active genomic regions during mouse development.
- To establish an efficient method for discovering and mutating novel developmental genes.
Main Methods:
- Introduction of two lacZ reporter constructs into embryonic stem cells.
- Generation of chimaeric mice from modified embryonic stem cells.
- Analysis of lacZ expression patterns for developmental regulation.
Main Results:
- Developmental regulation of lacZ expression was observed at a high frequency.
- The strategy successfully identified transcriptionally active genomic regions.
- The method facilitates the discovery of novel genes involved in development.
Conclusions:
- The reporter construct strategy is effective for identifying developmentally regulated genes.
- This approach provides an efficient means to discover and mutate novel genes controlling mammalian development.
- Future work includes molecular cloning and germ line introduction of identified genes.