biostudies-literatureAkalu YTYale UniversityNEI NIH HHSNCATS NIH HHSNIDDK NIH HHSHoward Hughes Medical InstituteYale Cancer CenterNational Cancer InstituteDutch Cancer SocietyNCI NIH HHSNational Institutes of HealthFordham UniversityNational Science Foundatione80530https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC9433089biostudies-literatureUnknown11Knockout (KO) mouse models play critical roles in elucidating biological processes behind disease-associated or disease-resistant traits. As a presumed consequence of gene KO, mice display certain phenotypes. Based on insight into the molecular role of said gene in a biological process, it is inferred that the particular biological process causally underlies the trait. This approach has been crucial towards understanding the basis of pathological and/or advantageous traits associated with <i>Mertk</i> KO mice. <i>Mertk</i> KO mice suffer from severe, early-onset retinal degeneration. MERTK, expressed in retinal pigment epithelia, is a receptor tyrosine kinase with a critical role in phagocytosis of apoptotic cells or cellular debris. Therefore, early-onset, severe retinal degeneration was eLifeTissue-specific modifier alleles determine <i>Mertk</i> loss-of-function traits.PMC9433089R01 EY026215YSPORE Career Development Award DRP27BUIT 2012-53472T32CA193200-06DGE-1122492Kim B. and Stephen E. Bepler Professorship in BiologyP30 DK034989UL1 TR001863Richard K. Gershon FellowshipT32 CA193200R01CA212376R01 CA212376Nevin JFinnemann SCLasorella APhilbrick WMIavarone AAnsems MAlberto EJAlvarado DAkalu YTGhosh SLiu XNHe LZMercau MEHughes LDBosenberg MRothlin CVKeler TKong YfalseTissue-specific modifier alleles determine <i>Mertk</i> loss-of-function traits.Knockout (KO) mouse models play critical roles in elucidating biological processes behind disease-associated or disease-resistant traits. As a presumed consequence of gene KO, mice display certain phenotypes. Based on insight into the molecular role of said gene in a biological process, it is inferred that the particular biological process causally underlies the trait. This approach has been crucial towards understanding the basis of pathological and/or advantageous traits associated with <i>Mertk</i> KO mice. <i>Mertk</i> KO mice suffer from severe, early-onset retinal degeneration. MERTK, expressed in retinal pigment epithelia, is a receptor tyrosine kinase with a critical role in phagocytosis of apoptotic cells or cellular debris. Therefore, early-onset, severe retinal degeneration was 2022-01-01T00:00:00Z2022 Aug2026-05-31T16:04:40.978Z2025-02-19T01:27:01.286ZS-EPMC94330893596903710.7554/eLife.80530