Strain-Dependent Modifier Genes Determine Survival in Zfp423 Mice

Zfp423 encodes a transcriptional regulatory protein that interacts with canonical signaling and lineage pathways. Mutations in mouse Zfp423 or its human ortholog ZNF423 are associated with a range of developmental abnormalities reminiscent of ciliopathies, including cerebellar vermis hypoplasia and other midline brain defects. Null mice have reduced viability in most strain backgrounds. Here we show complete lethality on a C57BL/6J background, dominant rescue in backcrosses to any of 13 partner strains, with strain-dependent survival frequencies, and evidence for a BALB/c-derived survival modifier locus on chromosome 5. Survival data indicate both perinatal and postnatal periods of lethality. Anatomical data from a hypomorphic gene trap allele observed on both C57BL/6J and BALB/c congenic backgrounds shows an aggregate effect of background on sensitivity to Zfp423 loss rather than a binary effect on viability.