Z-Tag Model for Angiogenesis
The zebrafish vascular system is well characterized and highly conserved
with other vertebrates. For example, many zebrafish blood vessels form by
angiogenic sprouting and require the same proteins that are necessary for
blood vessel growth in mammals. Zebrafish embryos can live for several days
without a functional circulatory system, enabling the study of embryos with
vascular defects. Zygogen is applying its proprietary Z-Tag and Morphant™
technologies to the discovery and analysis of novel angiogenesis targets
and anti-angiogenic compounds.
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Angiogenesis printable PDF
Conserved Pathways in Zebrafish
| • Vascular endothelial cell growth factors | • Placental growth factors |
| • Fibroblast growth factors | • Angiopoietins |
| • Ephrin receptors | • Platelet-derived growth factors |
Z-Tag Angiogenesis Zebrafish
Bright field (top) and fluorescent (bottom) images of 3 days postfertilization
TG(VEGFR2:GRCFP) embryos. Blood vessel-specific expression of green reef
coral fluorescent protein (GRCFP) is driven by the vascular endothelial
cell growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR2) promoter.
Automation of Z-Tag Angiogenesis Assay
Fluorescent image of a TG(VEGFR2:GRCFP) embryo (2 dpf) acquired in a 384-well plate using Discovery-1TM. The number of angiogenic vessels – intersegmental vessels and their sprouting arteries – are quantied. Changes to vasculogenic vessels can also be assessed.
Target Validation with Z-Tag Angiogenesis Zebrafish
Measurement of angiogenic vessels in Z-Tag embryos injected with vehicle (Control) or VEGF-morpholinos at the one cell stage. Images were captured in 384-well plates using Discovery-1™.
