1. Biologists at Singapore's Institute for Molecular and Cell Biology (IMCB) have isolated 15,000 unique genetic markers from the zebrafish, which is often used as a model organism for human development and disease. These markers or Expressed Sequence Tags (ESTs), are valuable research resources for the international scientific community. They provide researchers worldwide with a quick and inexpensive way to discover new genes and understand their regulation in the body.
    
2. The remarkable conservation of genetic structure between human and zebrafish means that a study of newly discovered zebrafish genes could facilitate the understanding of their human equivalents. For example, many of the same genes control the generation of mature blood cells in both humans and zebrafish.
    
3. Genomics Specialist Jinrong Peng and Molecular Biologist Zilong Wen led a team of scientists in the two-year joint effort that has resulted in the identification of the markers from a zebrafish-expressed gene library.
    
4. They then used the marker information to generate a "gene chip" which carries approximately 3,100 unique gene sequences. This chip allowed the researchers to trace patterns of gene expression during the fish's growth and development, which led them to a group of previously unknown genes involved in muscle development.
    
5. Dr. Peng said his job was only beginning. He added : "The ESTs are a tool.   Zebrafish groups here and internationally can use them to find out more about gene expression in zebrafish."
    
6. "We have EST clones distributed to over 30 labs all over the world, including very famous labs like the one at Harvard Medical School." Several laboratories in the UK, Taiwan and Canada have shown interest.
    
7. There are currently six groups in IMCB specialising in zebrafish research. Besides Dr. Peng's and Dr. Wen's, there is a Fish Developmental Biology group led by Associate Professor Vladimir Korzh, the Developmental Signaling and Patterning group led by Dr. Yun-Jin Jiang, Signal Transduction of cytokines and growth factors led by Associate Professor Graeme Guy, and Epithelial Cell Polarity group led by Associate Professor Walter Hunziker. The arrival of Dr. Sudipto Roy in June will bring the total to seven laboratories - the highest density of such specialists outside of the US and Europe. Dr Roy's research focus is on the genetics of specification of distinct muscle and neuronal cells.
    
8. All the groups share resources, equipment and knowledge while maintaining discrete projects. Dr. Wen explains the synergy : "We share the same model organism, but we explore the possibilities from different angles."
    
9. The zebrafish is a small, hardy freshwater fish which originated from northern India.   In recent years, the fish has become a favourite organism for biomedical research because of its rapid maturity and high fertility.
    
10. Zebrafish females are ready to mate within three months of hatching and are capable of producing tens of thousands of transparent embryos throughout their life. The transparency of the embryos allows biologists to easily observe organ development, while their relatively large size facilitates injection and cell transplantation. These attributes make the zebrafish ideal for large-scale genetic screening. Such screens have already detected hundreds of genes critical for normal embryo development.

Images of Zebrafish are available on request.

"Zebrafish, do we need another model organism?" By Michael Lardelli in Anzccart News.
http://www.adelaide.edu.au/ANZCCART/publications/News_122000.pdf

"ESTs: Gene Discovery made easier."
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/About/primer/est.html

For more information please contact:

Jinrong Peng,
Functional Genomics Laboratory,
Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology,
30 Medical Drive,
Singapore 117609.
Tel: 68727438
Email: pengjr@imcb.a-star.edu.sg

Toh Seh Ling
Deputy Director
Corporate Communications
A*STAR
DID : 6826-6344
Email: toh_seh_ling@a-star.edu.sg

Notes to the Editor:

1. This article is published in the scientific journal Genome Research on the 5th March 2003.  Title: 15,000 Unique Zebrafish EST Clusters and Their Future Use in Microarray for Profiling Gene Expression Patterns during Embryogenesis.  Authors: Jane Lo, Sorcheng Lee, Min Xu, Feng Liu, Hua Ruan, Alvin Fun, Yawen He, Weiping Ma, Weefuen Wang, Zilong Wen and Jinrong Peng.  Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, 30 Medical Drive, Singapore 117609.
    
2. About the Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology (IMCB)
   The Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology (IMCB) is a world-class research institute in biomedical sciences with core strengths in cell cycling, cell signaling, cell death, cell motility and protein trafficking. Its recent achievements include being part of an international consortium that successfully sequenced the entire pufferfish (Fugu) genome - a world first. The IMCB was also awarded the Nikkei Prize 2000 for Technological Innovation in recognition of its growth into a leading international research centre and its collaboration with industry and research institutes worldwide.  Originally established in 1987, the Institute currently has 38 independent research groups with more than 400 staff members. It is an A*STAR-sponsored research institute.
   URL: http://imcb.a-star.edu.sg
    
3. About the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR)
   The Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) fosters scientific research through its two research councils, the Biomedical Research Council (BMRC) and the Science and Engineering Research Council (SERC).  The Biomedical Research Council (BMRC) oversees and provides support to public sector biomedical research and development activities in Singapore.
   
   BMRC's objectives are to:
   
   
   
   • Support, sustain and stimulate excellent research for maintaining and improving human health.
      
   • Train people in research skills to meet Singapore's health needs, quality of life and global economic competitiveness.
      
   • Increase public understanding of biomedical science.
   
   
   URL: http://www.a-star.edu.sg