<HashMap><database>GEO</database><file_versions><headers><Content-Type>application/xml</Content-Type></headers><body><files><Other>ftp://ftp.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/geo/series/GSE296nnn/GSE296673/</Other></files><type>primary</type></body><statusCode>OK</statusCode><statusCodeValue>200</statusCodeValue></file_versions><scores/><additional><omics_type>Transcriptomics</omics_type><species>Danio rerio</species><gds_type>Expression profiling by high throughput sequencing</gds_type><full_dataset_link>https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/geo/query/acc.cgi?acc=GSE296673</full_dataset_link><repository>GEO</repository><entry_type>GSE</entry_type></additional><is_claimable>false</is_claimable><name>mitfa-Independent Melanocyte Progenitors are Highly Susceptible to GNAQ-induced Uveal Melanoma in Adult Zebrafish</name><description>Melanocytes reside in diverse microenvironments that influence their susceptibility to oncogenic transformation, however, studying rare melanoma subsets has been hindered by the lack of suitable animal models. We developed a primary, immune-competent zebrafish model to study uveal melanoma (UM), utilizing choroidal-targeted injection and electroporation of plasmids containing human GNAQQ209L and CRISPR/Cas9 cassettes for tumor suppressor gene deletion. Single-cell transcriptional profiling of genetically identical eye- and skin-derived tumors revealed distinct oncogenic pathways, highlighting the importance of studying melanoma subtypes in their correct anatomical context. Additionally, we identified a population of tfec- and pax3a-expressing melanocyte progenitor cells in mitfa-deficient embryos and adult zebrafish eyes, which were highly susceptible to GNAQ-driven transformation. While previous studies have linked mitfa deficiency to accelerated UM onset, our findings suggest that an expanded progenitor population in mitfa-deficient animals drives this susceptibility. Our study establishes a critical role for MITF-independent melanocyte progenitors in UM pathogenesis.</description><dates><publication>2026/05/01</publication></dates><accession>GSE296673</accession><cross_references><GSM>GSM8974497</GSM><GSM>GSM8974496</GSM><GSM>GSM8974499</GSM><GSM>GSM8974498</GSM><GSM>GSM8974500</GSM><GPL>24995</GPL><GSE>296673</GSE><taxon>Danio rerio</taxon></cross_references></HashMap>