Genetic Analysis of Digestive Physiology Using Fluorescent Phospholipid Reporters

• DOI: 10.1126/science.1060418
• Publication Date: 2002-07-27T09:52:41Z
• Authors: Steven A. Farber; Michael Pack; Shiu-Ying Ho; Iain D. Johnson; Daniel S. Wagner; Roland Dosch; Mary C. Mullins; H. Stewart Hendri...; Elizabeth K. Hend...; Marnie E. Halpern
• Keywords: Boron Compounds; 0303 health sciences; Microscopy, Video; Anticholesteremic Agents; Gallbladder; Lipase; Bile Acids and Salts; Mice; 03 medical and health sciences; Cholesterol; Microscopy, Fluorescence; Digestive System Physiological Phenomena; Heptanoic Acids; Larva; Mutation; Atorvastatin; Animals; Pyrroles; Digestive System; Phospholipids; Fluorescent Dyes; Signal Transduction

Zebrafish are a valuable model for mammalian lipid metabolism; larvae process lipids similarly through the intestine and hepatobiliary system respond to drugs that block cholesterol synthesis in humans. After ingestion of fluorescently quenched phospholipids, endogenous lipase activity rapid transport cleavage products results intense gall bladder fluorescence. Genetic screening identifies zebrafish mutants, such as fat free , show normal digestive organ morphology but severely reduced phospholipid processing. Thus, fluorescent provide sensitive readout metabolism powerful tool identifying genes mediate vertebrate physiology.