McConnell AM, Mito JK, Ablain J, Dang M, Formichella L, Fisher DE, Zon LI. Neural crest state activation in NRAS driven melanoma, but not in NRAS-driven melanocyte expansion. Dev Biol. 2019 May 15; 449(2):107-114.

Citation

McConnell AM, Mito JK, Ablain J, Dang M, Formichella L, Fisher DE, Zon LI. 2019. Neural crest state activation in NRAS driven melanoma, but not in NRAS-driven melanocyte expansion. Developmental biology. 449(2):107-114. Pubmed: 29883661 DOI:S0012-1606(17)30855-2

Abstract

NRAS mutations are frequently found in many deadly malignancies and are the second most common oncogene driving malignant melanoma. Here, we generate a rapid transient transgenic zebrafish model of NRAS-mutant melanoma. These fish develop extensive melanocytic proliferation in approximately 4 weeks. The majority of these lesions do not engraft upon transplantation and lack overt histologic features of malignancy. Our previous work demonstrated that activation of a neural crest cell transcriptional program is a key initiating event in zebrafish BRAF/p53-driven melanomas using the fluorescent reporter crestin:EGFP. By 8-12 weeks of age, some lesions progress to malignant melanoma and have cytologic atypia, destructive tissue invasion, and express neural crest progenitor markers, including crestin:EGFP. Our studies demonstrate that NRAS induces extensive melanocyte expansion, which arise during zebrafish development and lack a transformed phenotype. These early lesions are highly predisposed to reactivate a neural crest progenitor fate and form malignant melanomas.

Related Faculty

Leonard Zon, M.D.

Zon Lab

The Zon laboratory aims to dissect how assaults to the hematopoietic system cause severe diseases such as leukemias, lymphomas, and anemias. They investigate hematopoietic development and disease using chemical screens, genetic screens, and analysis of novel transgenic lines in zebrafish.