Overexpression of an agouti cDNA in the skin of transgenic mice recapitulates dominant coat color phenotypes of spontaneous mutants
Article Abstract:
Expression of the classical Agouti gene cause mice to vary in their coat phenotype by regulating the synthesis of the yellow pigment phaeomelanin. However, information about the effects of the overexpression of this gene is lacking. In this study, the agoutic protein was expressed in high levels in the skin of transgenic mice to determine whether it can cause obesity and diabetes. The mice showed no changes that could be linked to obesity or hyperglycemia. However, many founder mice exhibited coat color patterns that resembled the agouti allele responsible for the variegated or striped phenotype. These results suggest that the agouti gene has no endocrine function.
Publication Name: Developmental Biology
Subject: Biological sciences
ISSN: 0012-1606
Year: 1996
User Contributions:
Comment about this article or add new information about this topic:
Deconstructing type 2 diabetes
Article Abstract:
Type 2 diabetes is considered a major public health problem. It is a complex heterogeneous disease supporting multiple genes promoting the polygenic disorder. It is suggested that defects in the insulin action route may be the cause of insulin deficiency. The use of positional cloning is anticipated to advance knowledge on the disease through the identification of the genes causing both insulin deficiency and insulin resistance.
Publication Name: Cell
Subject: Biological sciences
ISSN: 0092-8674
Year: 1999
User Contributions:
Comment about this article or add new information about this topic:
Type 2 diabetes: when insulin secretion fails to compensate for insulin resistance
Article Abstract:
The genetic susceptibility to Type 2 diabetes does not consider Mendelian inheritance associated with the dogma that common forms of Type 2 diabetes are polygenic with superimposed environmental influences. Single gene defects provoke both insulin action and the capability of beta cells to compensate with hyperplasia and hypersecretion of insulin. However, the specific genes that cause human diabetes still remain unknown.
Publication Name: Cell
Subject: Biological sciences
ISSN: 0092-8674
Year: 1998
User Contributions:
Comment about this article or add new information about this topic:
- Abstracts: Overexpression of vascular endothelial growth factor in the avian embryo induces hypervascularization and increased vascular permeability without alterations of embryonic pattern formation
- Abstracts: Genetic basis of ninitroaniline herbicide resistance in a highly resistant biotype of goosegrass (Eleusine indica)
- Abstracts: Genetic variation of western larch in British Columbia and its conservation
- Abstracts: Induction of anti-self-immunity to cure cancer. Reactive oxygen intermediates mediate a systemic signal network in the establishment of plant immunity
- Abstracts: Molecular and biotechnological aspects of microbial proteases. Biology of Pseudomonas stutzeri