Biomaterial Database

Developmental studies on an apparent cell-lethal mutant gene-ut-in the Mexican axolotl, Ambystoma mexicanum. 1978

R R Humphrey, and G M Malacinski, and H M Chung

The discovery of a new mutant gene in stocks of the Mexican axolotl derived from breeding stock of the Hubrecht Laboratory, the Netherlands, is described. The gene appears to be a simple recessive and displays complete penetrance. ut/ut larvae develop normally through hatching, but begin to lag in growth and display characteristics defects in gill and limb formation shortly thereafter. The results of parabiosis of normal and mutant embryos, as well as embryological transplants of mutant limb and branchial rudiments, support the conclusion that the gene ut is expressed as an 'autonomous-cell lethal'. Despite gross morphological defects in ut/ut larvae, comparisons between normal and mutant animals of the protein spectra of various tissues and organs revealed no substantial differences. A subtle change in the metabolism of ut/ut larvae apparently, therefore, leads to developmental arrest.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007814	Larva	Wormlike or grublike stage, following the egg in the life cycle of insects, worms, and other metamorphosing animals.	Maggots,Tadpoles,Larvae,Maggot,Tadpole
D009154	Mutation	Any detectable and heritable change in the genetic material that causes a change in the GENOTYPE and which is transmitted to daughter cells and to succeeding generations.	Mutations
D011506	Proteins	Linear POLYPEPTIDES that are synthesized on RIBOSOMES and may be further modified, crosslinked, cleaved, or assembled into complex proteins with several subunits. The specific sequence of AMINO ACIDS determines the shape the polypeptide will take, during PROTEIN FOLDING, and the function of the protein.	Gene Products, Protein,Gene Proteins,Protein,Protein Gene Products,Proteins, Gene
D002454	Cell Differentiation	Progressive restriction of the developmental potential and increasing specialization of function that leads to the formation of specialized cells, tissues, and organs.	Differentiation, Cell,Cell Differentiations,Differentiations, Cell
D005260	Female		Females
D005804	Genes, Lethal	Genes whose loss of function or gain of function MUTATION leads to the death of the carrier prior to maturity. They may be essential genes (GENES, ESSENTIAL) required for viability, or genes which cause a block of function of an essential gene at a time when the essential gene function is required for viability.	Alleles, Lethal,Allele, Lethal,Gene, Lethal,Lethal Allele,Lethal Alleles,Lethal Gene,Lethal Genes
D005808	Genes, Recessive	Genes that influence the PHENOTYPE only in the homozygous state.	Conditions, Recessive Genetic,Genetic Conditions, Recessive,Recessive Genetic Conditions,Condition, Recessive Genetic,Gene, Recessive,Genetic Condition, Recessive,Recessive Gene,Recessive Genes,Recessive Genetic Condition
D006720	Homozygote	An individual in which both alleles at a given locus are identical.	Homozygotes
D000557	Ambystoma	A genus of the Ambystomatidae family. The best known species are the axolotl AMBYSTOMA MEXICANUM and the closely related tiger salamander Ambystoma tigrinum. They may retain gills and remain aquatic without developing all of the adult characteristics. However, under proper changes in the environment they metamorphose.	Amblystoma,Ambystoma tigrinum,Tiger Salamander,Amblystomas,Ambystomas,Salamander, Tiger,Salamanders, Tiger,Tiger Salamanders
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia