Disruption of the transthyretin gene results in mice with depressed levels of plasma retinol and thyroid hormone.
Transthyretin (TTR) is thought to play a major role in vitamin A metabolism and thyroid hormone transport in mammals. To investigate the physiological role of the TTR protein in development of the embryo and in the adult, we used gene targeting techniques to generate a null mutation at the mouse ttr locus. The resultant mutant animals are phenotypically normal, viable, and fertile. However, levels of serum retinol, retinol-binding protein, and thyroid hormone are significantly depressed in the mutant animals. These observations demonstrate that the TTR protein maintains normal levels of these metabolites in the circulating plasma.
Episkopou
V
V
Department of Genetics & Development, Columbia University College of Physicians & Surgeons, New York, NY 10032.
Maeda
S
S
Nishiguchi
S
S
Shimada
K
K
Gaitanaris
G A
GA
Gottesman
M E
ME
Robertson
E J
EJ
D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D015139:Blotting, Southern; D002999:Clone Cells; D003433:Crosses, Genetic; D004247:DNA / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005260:Female; D005822:Genetic Vectors; D005838:Genotype; D006579:Heterozygote; D006720:Homozygote; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016296:Mutagenesis; D009838:Oligodeoxyribonucleotides; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D011228:Prealbumin / Q000235:genetics*; D011995:Recombination, Genetic; D015183:Restriction Mapping; D012177:Retinol-Binding Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D054839:Retinol-Binding Proteins, Plasma; D018139:Simplexvirus / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000502:physiology; D013937:Thymidine Kinase / Q000235:genetics; D013974:Thyroxine / Q000097:blood*; D014284:Triiodothyronine / Q000097:blood*; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000097:blood*
D009838:Oligodeoxyribonucleotides; D011228:Prealbumin; D012177:Retinol-Binding Proteins; D054839:Retinol-Binding Proteins, Plasma; D014284:Triiodothyronine; D014801:Vitamin A; D004247:DNA; D013937:Thymidine Kinase; D013974:Thyroxine