Transgenic screen and method for screening modulators of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) production
AssigneeU.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
InventorsGerhard Heinrich, Gigi Huynh
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Abstract
A transgenic screen and method for screening biological and chemical test substances or molecules for their ability to influence or modulate the production of BDNF in cells, includes a fusion gene having a zebrafish BDNF gene fragment (promoter) and a fluorescent marker gene inserted downstream of the BDNF gene fragment. When the fusion gene is injected into a zebrafish embryo, the BDNF promoter causes the production of fluorescent protein in various cell types. The embryo is exposed to a test substance for determining the effect thereof on the production of the fluorescent marker protein.
Claims21
A promoter, comprising:
- a nucleotide sequence substantially homologous to a sequence comprising nucleotides from approximately 2036 to 2063 substantially as depicted in FIGS. 7A-7E, or a functional part thereof.
A method of screening a substance for regulation of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) production, comprising the steps of:
- a) providing a transgenic cell including a fusion gene, the fusion gene comprising:
- i) a fragment of BDNF gene;
- and
- ii) a fluorescent marker;
- b) exposing the cell to a test substance;
- and
- c) detecting the level of any fluorescent protein produced by the cell thereby determining regulation of BDNF production by the test substance.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.