PUBLICATION

Gene redundancy and gene compensation: An updated view

Authors
Peng, J.
ID
ZDB-PUB-190805-3
Date
2019
Source
Journal of genetics and genomics = Yi chuan xue bao   46(7): 329-333 (Review)
Registered Authors
Peng, Jinrong
Keywords
COMPASS complex, Capn3, Gene compensation, Gene redundancy, Genetic compensation, Genetic model system, Non-sense-mediated RNA decay (NMD), Upf3a, Zebrafish
MeSH Terms
  • Animals
  • Dosage Compensation, Genetic*
  • Gene Expression Regulation*
  • Gene Knockdown Techniques
  • Genotype
  • Models, Genetic
  • Morpholinos/genetics
  • Multigene Family*
  • Mutation
  • Nonsense Mediated mRNA Decay
  • Phenotype
  • RNA, Messenger/genetics
  • Zebrafish/genetics
PubMed
31377237 Full text @ J. Genet. Genomics
Abstract
Gene knockdown approaches using antisense oligo nucleotides or analogs such as siRNAs and morpholinos have been widely adopted to study gene functions although the off-target issue has been always a concern in these studies. On the other hand, classic genetic analysis relies on the availability of loss-of-function or gain-of-function mutants. The fast development of genome editing technologies such as TALEN and CRISPR/Cas9 has greatly facilitated the generation of null mutants for the functional studies of target genes in a variety of organisms such as zebrafish. Surprisingly, an unexpected discrepancy was observed between morphant phenotype and mutant phenotype for many genes in zebrafish, i.e., while the morphant often displays an obvious phenotype, the corresponding null mutant appears relatively normal or only exhibits a mild phenotype due to gene compensation. Two recent reports have partially answered this intriguing question by showing that a pre-mature termination codon and homologous sequence are required to elicit the gene compensation and the histone modifying complex COMPASS is involved in activating the expression of the compensatory genes. Here, I summarize these exciting new progress and try to redefine the concept of genetic compensation and gene compensation.
Genes / Markers
Figures
Expression
Phenotype
Mutations / Transgenics
Human Disease / Model
Sequence Targeting Reagents
Fish
Antibodies
Orthology
Engineered Foreign Genes
Mapping