International Mammalian Genome Society

17th International Mouse Genome Conference

9-12 November 2003, Braunschweig, Germany

Plenary Presentations * Oral Presentations *
Poster Presentations: Behavioural Genetics and Genomics * Development and Stem Cells * Functional Genome Analysis * Mouse Models of Human Disease * Mouse System Biology Bioinformatics * Multigenic and Multifactorial Trait Analysis * Nutrition and Metabolic Disease * Phenotyping Methods Imaging * The Genetics and Genomics of Infectious Disease *
Verne Chapman Memorial Lecture * Table of Contents * Sponsor/Exhibitor List * Awards * Photographs

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POSTER 68 - ANALYSIS OF A NEW MOUSE LINE WITH A GENE TRAP VECTOR INTEGRATION IN A KRAB ZINC-FINGER ENCODING GENE

Vauti F
Department of Cell & Molecular Biology, Institute of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Technical University of Braunschweig, Spielmannstrasse 7, D-38106 Braunschweig

Co-Authors: Prochnow.B R, Arnold HH
Institutions: Department of Cell & Molecular Biology, Institute of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Technical University of Braunschweig, Spielmannstrasse 7, D-38106 Braunschweig

Krueppel-associated box (KRAB) zinc-finger proteins (ZFPs) are known to function as transcriptional repressors, with the KRAB domain being responsible for protein-protein interactions and the C2H2 type zinc-fingers mediating DNA binding. Although the function of only a few KRAB-ZFPs is known, they appear to play important roles during cell differentiation and development. Here, a novel KRAB-ZFP was identified by gene trapping. The full length cDNA of 4043 bp contains an open reading frame of 2055 bp. The putative protein has both KRAB-A and KRAB-B boxes at the N-terminus and 10 C2H2 zinc-finger motifs at the C-terminus. LacZ expression of the trapped gene is found in all embryonic stages analyzed from E9.5 to E17.5 with a general "salt and pepper" staining. RT-PCR also revealed transcripts in embryos of E11.3 - E13.5, in postnatal skin (P0 - P9), as well as in most adult organs with the exception of skin. Homozygous mutants show hypopigmentation of the skin, hair and eyes. The pigmentation in mutants of the C57BL/6J genetic background is characterized by a light gray coat color with red eyes or a white coat color and pink eyes. In the 129/Sv background, mutants display a beige coat with red eyes or a cream coat with pink eyes. Pigmentation in mammals is a complex polygenic trait. Current analysis of our gene trap line elucidates KRAB-ZFP's role in pigmentation with respect to its effects on melanocytogenesis and/or melanogenesis.