Details

Autor(en) / Beteiligte

• Lahoud, M H
• Ristevski, S
• Venter, D J
• Jermiin, L S
• Bertoncello, I
• Zavarsek, S
• Hasthorpe, S
• Drago, J
• de Kretser, D
• Hertzog, P J
• Kola, I

Titel

Gene targeting of Desrt, a novel ARID class DNA-binding protein, causes growth retardation and abnormal development of reproductive organs

Ist Teil von

• Genome research, 2001-08, Vol.11 (8), p.1327-1334

Ort / Verlag

United States

Erscheinungsjahr

2001

Quelle

MEDLINE

Beschreibungen/Notizen

• We have cloned and characterized a novel murine DNA-binding protein Desrt, with a motif characteristic of the ARID (A-T rich interaction domain) family of transcription factors. The Desrt gene encodes an 83-kD protein that is shown to bind DNA and is widely expressed in adult tissues. To examine the in vivo function of Desrt, we have generated mice with a targeted mutation in the ARID domain of Desrt. Homozygous mutants have reduced viability, pronounced growth retardation, and a high incidence of abnormalities of the female and male reproductive organs including cryptorchidism. This may thus serve as a model to dissect the mechanisms involved in the development of the reproductive tract including testicular descent. Gene-targeted mice also display a reduction in the thickness of the zona reticularis of the adrenal gland and transient aberrations of the T and B cell compartments of primary lymphoid organs. These data show that this novel DNA-binding protein, Desrt, has a nonredundant function during growth and in the development of the reproductive system.