A mammal-specific exon of WT1 is not required for development or fertility.
The WT1 tumor suppressor gene is a zinc finger-containing transcription factor which is required for development of the kidney and gonads. A mammal-specific alternative splicing event within this gene results in the presence or absence of a 17-amino-acid sequence within the WT1 protein. To determine the function of this sequence in vivo, gene targeting was utilized to specifically eliminate the exon encoding this sequence in mice. Mice lacking WT1 exon 5 develop normally. Adult mice lacking this exon are viable and fertile, and females are capable of lactation.
Natoli
Thomas A
TA
Department of Medicine, The Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
McDonald
Alice
A
Alberta
Julia A
JA
Taglienti
Mary E
ME
Housman
David E
DE
Kreidberg
Jordan A
JA
D017398:Alternative Splicing; D000818:Animals; D005091:Exons; D005260:Female; D005298:Fertility / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D008322:Mammals / Q000235:genetics; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008817:Mice, Mutant Strains; D013076:Sperm Count; D025721:WT1 Proteins / Q000235:genetics*
D025721:WT1 Proteins