MANIPULATION OF THE MOUSE GERMLINE IN THE STUDY OF MIN-INDUCED NEOPLASIA

The Min mouse, generated by random germline mutagenesis, carries a mut ation in the mouse homolog of APC and is a model of inherited human in testinal tumorigenesis. To identify other genes in the pathway(s) of i ntestinal tumorigenesis, genes that modify the Min phenotype have been sought. Several have been identified, including Mom1 and the genes fa r the 5-cytosine DNA methyltransferase and the DNA mismatch repair fac tor Msh2. Min-dependent tumorigenesis also occurs in mammary glands, t he pancreas, and the body wall. The Min mouse has therefore became a m odel for tumorigenesis in a variety of organs. Identifying modifiers o f its phenotype will help in piecing together the pathways of tumorige nesis in each of these tissues.