zTrap: zebrafish gene trap and enhancer trap database

To increase the usefulness of the transgenic fish resource, we developed a web-based database named zTrap http://kawakami.lab.nig.ac.jp/ztrap/ webcite. The zTrap database contains images of GFP and Gal4FF expression patterns, and genomic DNA sequences surrounding the integration sites of the gene trap and enhancer trap constructs. The integration sites are mapped onto the Ensembl zebrafish genome by in-house Blat analysis and can be viewed on the zTrap and Ensembl genome browsers. Furthermore, zTrap is equipped with the functionality to search these data for expression patterns and genomic loci of interest. zTrap contains the information about transgenic fish including UAS reporter and effector fish.zTrap is a useful resource to find gene trap and enhancer trap fish lines that express GFP and Gal4FF in desired patterns, and to find insertions of the gene trap and enhancer trap constructs that are located within or near genes of interest. These transgenic fish can be utilized to observe specific cell types during embryogenesis, to manipulate their functions, and to discover novel genes and cis-regulatory elements. Therefore, zTrap should facilitate studies on genomics, developmental biology and neurobiology utilizing the transgenic zebrafish resource.Zebrafish has been used as a model vertebrate because of high fecundity, rapid embryonic development, transparency during embryonic stages and inexpensive and easy breeding. We have developed a transposon technology by using the medaka fish Tol2 transposable element in this model vertebrate [1-5]. With the Tol2 transposon technology, it is now possible for researchers to perform highly efficient transgenesis in zebrafish and powerful genetic approaches such as gene trapping, enhancer trapping and targeted gene expression by the Gal4-UAS system [4,6-10]. These have greatly advanced genetic studies in zebrafish and increased the usefulness of zebrafish as a vertebrate model.We have constructed different types of Tol2-based