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Small molecule screening identifies targetable zebrafish pigmentation pathways
Author(s) -
Colanesi Sarah,
Taylor Kerrie L.,
Temperley Nicholas D.,
Lundegaard Pia R.,
Liu Dong,
North Trista E.,
Ishizaki Hironori,
Kelsh Robert N.,
Patton E. Elizabeth
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
pigment cell and melanoma research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.618
H-Index - 105
eISSN - 1755-148X
pISSN - 1755-1471
DOI - 10.1111/j.1755-148x.2012.00977.x
Subject(s) - zebrafish , biology , microbiology and biotechnology , small molecule , model organism , cell , melanocyte , computational biology , genetics , gene , melanoma
Summary Small molecules complement genetic mutants and can be used to probe pigment cell biology by inhibiting specific proteins or pathways. Here, we present the results of a screen of active compounds for those that affect the processes of melanocyte and iridophore development in zebrafish and investigate the effects of a few of these compounds in further detail. We identified and confirmed 57 compounds that altered pigment cell patterning, number, survival, or differentiation. Additional tissue targets and toxicity of small molecules are also discussed. Given that the majority of cell types, including pigment cells, are conserved between zebrafish and other vertebrates, we present these chemicals as molecular tools to study developmental processes of pigment cells in living animals and emphasize the value of zebrafish as an in vivo system for testing the on‐ and off‐target activities of clinically active drugs.