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Xiphophorus

  • Reference work entry
Encyclopedic Reference of Cancer

  • 143 Accesses

Synonyms

  • Gordon-Kosswig melanoma system

  • platyfish-swordtail melanoma

Definition

Small aquarium fishes of the genus Xiphophorus are known by the common name of platyfish (X. maculatus) and swordtail (X. helleri). Introgressive hybridization results in offspring that develop melanoma according to Mendelian principles. This represents the first system, described in 1927, systematically employed for studies of genetic factors in cancer and to show induction of melanoma by ultraviolet light (UV-A).

Characteristics

Genetics of melanoma formation

The genetic basis of melanoma formation after introgressive hybridization is explained by the independent segregation of a pigmentation locus (Sd), which contains a dominantly-acting oncogene, designated Tu, and a trans-acting regulatory gene R (also termed Diff, MelSev or R Diff ) that suppresses the oncogenic activity of Tu (1, 3, 5, 6) (Fig.). Independent segregation is possible because Tu and Rreside on different chromosomes. Crossing and...

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References

  1. Anders F (1991) Contributions of the Gordon-Kosswig melanoma system to the present concept of neoplasia. Pigment Cell Research 3: 7–29

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  2. Schartl M (1995) Platyfish and swordtails: a genetic system for the analysis of molecular mechanisms in tumor formation. Trends Genet 11:185–189

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  3. Schwab M (1987) Oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes in Xiphophorus. Trends Genet 3: 38–42

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  4. Nairn RS, Morizot DC, Kazianis S, Woodhead AD, Setlow RB (1996) Nonmammalian models for sunlight carcinogenesis: Genetic analysis of melanoma formation in Xiphophorus hybrid fish. Photochemistry and Photobiology 64:440–448

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  5. Vielkind JR, Kallman KD, Morizot DC (1989) Genetics of melanomas in Xiphophorus. J Aquat Animal Health 1: 69–77

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  6. Anders, A., and F. Anders (1978) Etiology of cancer as studied in the platyfish-swordtail system. Biochim. Biophys. Acta, 516:61–95

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Biozentrum, Universität Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany

    Manfred Schartl

Authors
  1. Manfred Schartl
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Division Cytogenetics - H-0400, German Cancer Research Center, Im Neuenheimer Feld, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany

    Manfred Schwab (Professor for Genetics, Director) (Professor for Genetics, Director)

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© 2001 Springer-Verlag

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Schartl, M. (2001). Xiphophorus. In: Schwab, M. (eds) Encyclopedic Reference of Cancer. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/3-540-30683-8_1793

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/3-540-30683-8_1793

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-540-66527-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-540-30683-2

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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