PUBLICATION

Transgenic zebrafish models of neurodegenerative diseases

Authors
Sager, J.J., Bai, Q., and Burton, E.A.
ID
ZDB-PUB-100223-43
Date
2010
Source
Brain structure & function   214(2-3): 285-302 (Review)
Registered Authors
Burton, Edward A.
Keywords
Zebrafish, Neurodegeneration, Transgenic, Parkinson, Alzheimer, eno2, slc6a3, tol2, Parkin, dj1, Huntington
MeSH Terms
  • Animals
  • Animals, Genetically Modified/genetics*
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Genetic Predisposition to Disease/genetics
  • Humans
  • Huntington Disease/genetics
  • Huntington Disease/metabolism
  • Huntington Disease/pathology
  • Molecular Biology/methods*
  • Molecular Biology/trends
  • Motor Neuron Disease/genetics
  • Motor Neuron Disease/metabolism
  • Motor Neuron Disease/pathology
  • Neurodegenerative Diseases/genetics*
  • Neurodegenerative Diseases/metabolism
  • Neurodegenerative Diseases/physiopathology
  • Phenotype
  • Tauopathies/genetics
  • Tauopathies/metabolism
  • Tauopathies/physiopathology
  • Zebrafish/genetics*
PubMed
20162303 Full text @ Brain Struct. Funct.
Abstract
Since the introduction of the zebrafish as a model for the study of vertebrate developmental biology, an extensive array of techniques for its experimental manipulation and analysis has been developed. Recently it has become apparent that these powerful methodologies might be deployed in order to elucidate the pathogenesis of human neurodegenerative diseases and to identify candidate therapeutic approaches. In this article, we consider evidence that the zebrafish central nervous system provides an appropriate setting in which to model human neurological disease and we review techniques and resources available for generating transgenic models. We then examine recent publications showing that appropriate phenotypes can be provoked in the zebrafish through transgenic manipulations analogous to genetic abnormalities known to cause human tauopathies, polyglutamine diseases or motor neuron degenerations. These studies show proof of concept that findings in zebrafish models can be applicable to the pathogenic mechanisms underlying human diseases. Consequently, the prospects for providing novel insights into neurodegenerative diseases by exploiting transgenic zebrafish models and discovery-driven approaches seem favorable.
Genes / Markers
Figures
Expression
Phenotype
Mutations / Transgenics
Human Disease / Model
Sequence Targeting Reagents
Fish
Antibodies
Orthology
Engineered Foreign Genes
Mapping