In this study, we have identified a possible involvement for CLN3 in the Notch and JNK signalling pathways, and our dominant modifier screen has identified a potential role for the RNA localization machinery in regulating CLN3 function.
A genetic screen for epigenetic modifiers in mice has identified the SmcHD1 gene, which is required for maintaining DNA methylation and repression of Xi-linked gene promoters (Blewitt et al., 2008).
A previous study has identified interactions between chromatin modifiers and transcription factors by evaluating the discrepancy in expression between the transcription factor cohort and the rest of the genes when the chromatin modifier gene was mutated [ 13].
Our screen for second site genetic modifiers of the seu mutant gynoecial and ovule phenotypes has identified cyp85A2 as a genetic enhancer of the seu mutant.
Our genetic screen in Drosophila has identified several additional putative effectors of chromatin organization as modifiers of His1 phenotypes.
Her work has identified novel neurocognitive mechanisms underlying nicotine addiction and has validated genetic modifiers of response to pharmacotherapy, leading to personalized therapeutics.
Genetic modifier screens have identified genes with redundant roles in C. elegans vulval and pharyngeal morphogenesis (F ay and Y ochem 2007).
Zhang et al. have previously categorized genetic modifiers, which they had identified in a high-throughput screen, manually into few broad biological processes (categories) based on the GO annotations of the modifiers [ 6].
Using this neurodegenerative phenotype as a sensitized background for a genetic modifier screen, we have identified mutations in four genes: staufen, muscleblind, split ends, and CG3249.
Herein, we examine major C. elegans neurodegeneration models that recapitulate many aspects of human neurodegenerative disease and we survey the screens that have identified modifier genes.
