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

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journal contribution
posted on 2001-08-01, 00:00 authored by M H Lahoud, S Ristevski, D J Venter, L S Jermiin, I Bertoncello, Silva ZavarsekSilva Zavarsek, S Hasthorpe, J Drago, D de Kretser, P J Hertzog, I Kola
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.

History

Journal

Genome research

Volume

11

Issue

8

Pagination

1327 - 1334

Publisher

Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press

Location

Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y.

ISSN

1088-9051

Language

eng

Publication classification

C1.1 Refereed article in a scholarly journal

Copyright notice

2001, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press