ABSTRACT
Mutations in whole organisms are powerful ways of interrogating gene function in a realistic context. We describe a program, the Sanger Institute Mouse Genetics Project, that provides a step toward the aim of knocking out all genes and screening each line for a broad range of traits. We found that hitherto unpublished genes were as likely to reveal phenotypes as known genes, suggesting that novel genes represent a rich resource for investigating the molecular basis of disease. We found many unexpected phenotypes detected only because we screened for them, emphasizing the value of screening all mutants for a wide range of traits. Haploinsufficiency and pleiotropy were both surprisingly common. Forty-two percent of genes were essential for viability, and these were less likely to have a paralog and more likely to contribute to a protein complex than other genes. Phenotypic data and more than 900 mutants are openly available for further analysis. PAPERCLIP:
Subject(s)
Genetic Techniques , Mice, Knockout , Phenotype , Animals , Disease/genetics , Disease Models, Animal , Female , Genes, Essential , Genome-Wide Association Study , Male , MiceABSTRACT
A series of 2(Z)-2-benzylidene-6,7-dihydroxybenzofuran-3[2H]-ones was identified as potent inhibitors of bacterial chorismate synthase. The 2'-hydroxy-4'-pentoxy analogue 33 is a potent inhibitor of Streptococcus pneumoniae chorismate synthase.