International Mammalian Genome Society

The 15th International Mouse Genome Conference (2001)

Table of Contents * Complex Genetics * Developmental Genetics * Gene Annotation * Gene Discovery * Genome Sequencing * Functional Genomics * Mutagenesis * Presentations * Verne Chapman Memorial Lecture

Mark W Appleby
Discovery Biology
Celltech R&D Inc
1631 220th St. SE
Bothwell WA 98021 USA

Co-Authors: The Celltech / MRI Mutagenesis Consortium
Institution: Celltech R&D Inc

In order to identify novel genes involved in the regulation of the immune system and in the control of inflammatory responses we are conducting a large-scale ENU screen in the mouse. We have chosen to focus on the identification of recessive mutations, specifically those that have discrete effects upon function, reasoning that these will allow us to identify novel gene products which play a role in disease situations and thus represent therapeutic targets.

We have established a series of in-vitro screens designed to examine specific aspects of immunological and inflammatory responses (e.g. activation of T cells through the TCR) and carried out on peripheral blood lymphocytes.  These have been coupled with a complementary set of in-vivo screens based on classic pharmacologic models of inflammation and immune response. We are currently screening G3 animals through these assays and have a number of mutants in heritability testing or mapping crosses. We will present data on our screening and mapping strategies and on phenodeviants that have emerged from the program.