Non-mammalian transgenic animal model for cellular proliferative diseases

Abstract

Non-mammalian, transgenic animals, e.g. flies, that exhibit neoplastic phenotypes, i.e. spontaneously produce metastatic tumors, are provided. Also provided are methods of using the subject transgenic non-mammalian animals to identify compounds having activity with respect to cellular proliferative, and particularly neoplastic, diseases. Finally, kits for screening compounds for anti-neoplastic activity are provided.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A non-mammalian transgenic animal, wherein said transgenic animal spontaneously develops metastatic tumors and comprises a v-myb transgene.  
     
     
         2 . The transgenic non-mammalian animal according to  claim 1 , wherein said transgenic non-mammalian animal is an invertebrate.  
     
     
         3 . The transgenic non-mammalian animal according to  claim 2 , wherein said invertebrate is an insect.  
     
     
         4 . A transgenic fly that spontaneously develops metastatic tumors and comprises a v-myb transgene.  
     
     
         5 . The transgenic fly according to  claim 4 , wherein said fly is a member of the family Drosophilidae.  
     
     
         6 . The transgenic fly according to  claim 5 , wherein said fly is a Drosophila melanogaster.  
     
     
         7 . The transgenic fly according to  claim 4 , wherein said v-myb transgene is expressed in the amnioserosa and peripheral nervous system.  
     
     
         8 . A transgenic Drosophila melanogaster that spontaneously develops metastatic tumors and comprises a v-myb transgene.  
     
     
         9 . A method of screening a compound for activity with respect to cellular proliferative diseases, said method comprising: 
 administering said compound to a non-mammalian animal according to  claim 1;  and    observing the effect of said compound on said animal.    
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 9 , wherein said non-mammalian animal is a transgenic invertebrate.  
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 10 , wherein said invertebrate is an insect.  
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein said insect is a fly.  
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 9 , wherein said compound is orally administered to said animal.  
     
     
         14 . A method of screening a compound for activity with respect to a neoplastic disease, said method comprising: 
 feeding said compound to a non-mammalian animal according to  claim 1;  and    observing the effect of said compound on said animal.    
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein said compound is present in a nutrient medium.  
     
     
         16 . A method of screening a plurality of compounds for activity with respect to cellular proliferative disease, said method comprising: 
 feeding said plurality of compounds to a plurality of non-mammalian animals according to  claim 1  in a manner sufficient to ensure that each animal is fed only a single type compound from said plurality of compounds; and    observing the effect of said compounds on said plurality of animals.    
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein said compound is present in a nutrient medium. (nutrient medium includes water)  
     
     
         18 . A method of identifying whether a gene is capable of modulating a neoplastic disease condition, said method comprising: 
 mutating said gene in a non-mammalian animal according to  claim 1;  and    determining whether said mutation modulates the phenotype of said non-mammalian animal model.    
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 18 , wherein said modulating is enhancing.  
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 18 , wherein said modulating is suppressing.