Genome-wide Generation and Systematic Phenotyping of Knockout Mice Reveals New Roles for Many Genes

Summary

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 We found that hitherto unpublished genes were as likely to reveal phenotypes as known genes, suggesting that novel genes represent a rich resource for investigating the molecular basis of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.

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Graphical Abstract

Highlights

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  Large openly available resource of targeted mouse mutants and phenotypic data

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  Screen for broad range of disease features and traits

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  Many novel phenotypes suggest functions for both studied and unstudied genes

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  Haploinsufficiency and pleiotropy are common

Abstract

More than 900 new mutant mice lines and a multifaceted phenotypic screening platform reveal unanticipated pleiotropies, widespread effects of haploinsufficiency, potential disease models, and functions for unstudied genes.