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Model Organisms in Drug Discovery

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10<br />

Saturation Screen<strong>in</strong>g of the<br />

<strong>Drug</strong>gable Mammalian Genome<br />

Hector Beltrandelrio, Francis Kern, Thomas Lanthorn,<br />

Tamas Oravecz, James Piggott, David Powell, Ramiro<br />

Ramirez-Solis, Arthur T. Sands and Brian Zambrowicz<br />

Functional annotation of the mammalian genome has become an important<br />

goal <strong>in</strong> the post-genome era. Genetic studies <strong>in</strong> model organisms provide an<br />

excellent approach for understand<strong>in</strong>g gene function. The development of<br />

technologies for massive parallel production and analysis of mouse mutants is<br />

mak<strong>in</strong>g it possible to screen through mutations <strong>in</strong> all druggable genes to<br />

identify targets with high value for drug discovery. By carry<strong>in</strong>g out genetic<br />

screens <strong>in</strong> a mammalian model system, it is possible to screen directly for<br />

changes <strong>in</strong> physiology relevant to human disease treatment. Here we describe<br />

our biological screen<strong>in</strong>g strategy be<strong>in</strong>g carried out on 1000 mouse gene knockouts<br />

per year. This screen is focused on discover<strong>in</strong>g the targets for the next<br />

generation of therapeutic products <strong>in</strong> the areas of metabolism, endocr<strong>in</strong>ology,<br />

immunology, neurology, cardiology, ophthalmology, reproductive biology<br />

and oncology.<br />

10.1 Introduction<br />

Genetic screens can be used potentially to scan a genome for genes that play a<br />

role <strong>in</strong> any process of <strong>in</strong>terest. Early genetic screens were carried out <strong>in</strong><br />

<strong>in</strong>vertebrate model organisms and <strong>in</strong>cluded saturation screens of Drosophila<br />

<strong>Model</strong> <strong>Organisms</strong> <strong>in</strong> <strong>Drug</strong> <strong>Discovery</strong>. Edited by Pamela M. Carroll and Kev<strong>in</strong> Fitzgerald<br />

Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. ISBN: 0-470-84893-6

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