The genetic mapping and characterization of the m196 craniofacial and fin mutation in zebrafish

Abstract

The m196 mutation, a result of an ENU mutagenesis screen in zebrafish, disrupts embryonic development resulting in a delay of proper gill arch cartilage differentiation and a disruption of median and pectoral fin fold development. Mutant phenotypes arise at 24 hours post fertilization (hpf) with the onset of fin fold development and lead to early mortality between 30 hpf and 2 weeks from unknown causes. m196 delay and disruption of craniofacial chondrogenesis is possibly due to the initial displacement of the pharyngeal pouches and dismorphogenesis of the branchial arches. Cells expressing genetic markers of the fin fold and neural crest accumulate in a disorganized manner along the tail. Using meiotic mapping techniques, we have mapped the m196 mutation to a SSLP marker zCtg37A on LG17. We are analyzing candidate genes in search of the m196 mutation. These results will lead to the identification of a genetic factor essential for craniofacial and fin development in zebrafish.