A ZEBRAFISH BASED SCREEN FOR AGENTS WITH ABILITY TO PREVENT CELL DEATH

摘要

Methods of identifying candidate agents for treating of a number of diseases, disorders, or conditions are provided. These include those associated with reduced motor activity, neurodegeneration, vitiligo and melanoma. Employing mutant trpm7 teleost embryos, in particular, zebrafish, it is found that these cells have temporary paralysis, a reduction neuronal function, a reduction in the number of melanocytes. By subjecting mutant trpm7 teleost exhibiting at least one of these phenotypes in the presence of an agent, candidate agents for treating diseases, disorders, or conditions associated with reduced motor activity, neurodegeneration, vitiligo are identified. By subjecting teleost with a functional trpm7 protein in the presence of an agent, candidate agents for treating melanomas are identified.