A Novel Transgenic Reporter to Study Vertebrate Epigenetics

Area of Science:

• Developmental biology
• Epigenetics
• Genetics

Background:

• Epigenetic reprogramming drives cellular diversity in vertebrate development, but underlying mechanisms remain unclear.
• Large-scale genetic screens have identified epigenetic regulators in invertebrates, but not yet in vertebrates.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a novel tool for visualizing epigenetic gene regulation in vivo in vertebrates.
• To conduct a large-scale genetic screen for epigenetic regulators in zebrafish.

Main Methods:

• Generation of the EpiTag zebrafish transgenic reporter line for live visualization of epigenetic silencing/activation.
• F3 ENU mutagenesis screen using the EpiTag reporter to identify mutants affecting epigenetic regulation.

Main Results:

• The EpiTag reporter enables cellular-level visualization of epigenetic dynamics during development, gametogenesis, and regeneration.
• Identification of novel tissue-specific epigenetic regulatory genes in vertebrates.
• Discovery of a new epigenetic model for metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD).

Conclusions:

• The EpiTag zebrafish line is a powerful tool for studying tissue-specific epigenetic gene regulation in vertebrates.
• This approach facilitates the genetic and experimental analysis of epigenetic mechanisms in vivo.