• BayGenomics ES Cell Lines

• Beta Cell Biology Consortium Collection

• Beutler Strains

• Comparative Mouse Genomics Centers Consortium

• Deltagen

• Gene Expression Nervous System Atlas

• Lexicon Pharmaceuticals

• Mammalian Pigmentation

• Mutagenesis for Dev. Defects/Baylor

• Nagy Basic ES Cell Lines

• Sanger Gene Trap ES Cell Lines

• Soriano Gene Trap ES Cell Lines

• UNC Mutagenized ES Cell Lines

• ES Cell Line Information

Mammalian Pigmentation

Background

This collection, assembled and maintained by Dr. Lynn Lamoreux while at Texas A&M University, contains pigment mutant mouse strains, virtually all as congenic strains on a C57BL/6 background. These numerous pigmentary mutations, individually and in appropriate combinations, enable the rigorous evaluation of mutations at the organism, organ and tissue levels, and the assessment of genic interactions. The collection was created to help investigators achieve a complete understanding of the genetic control of development and function of the mammalian pigmentation system and its diseases, including interacting functions that affect other biological systems by pleiotropic effects.

Pigmentation and the pigment cell form an ideal system for genetic analysis of a developmental system, since pigmentary mutations are readily detected and most often are not lethal. Rich genetic resources exist for study of mouse pigmentation: germline mutations mapped now to over 120 loci, around 50 of which have been cloned. These mutations are also relevant to melanoma and to numerous associated birth defects of organs including the ear, eye, brain, reproductive, digestive and respiratory tracts, hemophilia, and cellular defects in protein transport, organelle biogenesis and apoptosis.

Cell lines from many of these mutants have been made and can be obtained from the Wellcome Trust Functional Genomics Cell Bank. These melanocyte and melanoblast lines, carrying diverse pigmentary mutations, are used to study gene functions at the cellular, biochemical and molecular levels.

MMRRC holdings

The MMRRC holds 50 mutant strains in this collection.

Distribution

Strains are distributed using the MMRRC Conditions of Use *(COU).

* The preceding link is to the COU text only; the COU user form will be provided after order submission.

Related Links

• MMRRC catalog of all Mammalian Pigmentation lines
• Wellcome Trust Functional Genomics Cell Bank