Disruption of the mitotic kinesin Eg5 gene (Knsl1) results in early embryonic lethality.
Eg5, a member of the widely conserved kinesin-5 family, is a plus-end-directed motor involved in separation of centrosomes, and in bipolar spindle formation and maintenance during mitosis in vertebrates. To investigate the requirement for Eg5 in mammalian development, we have generated Eg5 deficient mice by gene targeting. Heterozygous mice are healthy, fertile, and show no detectable phenotype, whereas Eg5(-/-) embryos die during early embryogenesis, prior to the implantation stage. This result shows that Eg5 is essential during early mouse development and cannot be compensated by another molecular motor.
Chauvière
Muriel
M
CNRS, Institut André Lwoff, FRE 2937-Génétique Moléculaire et Intégration des Fonctions Cellulaires, 7 rue Guy Môquet, 94801 Villejuif, France. chauvier@vjf.cnrs.fr
Kress
Chantal
C
Kress
Michel
M
D000818:Animals; D001755:Blastocyst / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D020964:Embryo Loss / Q000235:genetics*; D047108:Embryonic Development / Q000235:genetics; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D006579:Heterozygote; D016547:Kinesins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D008938:Mitosis / Q000235:genetics; D010641:Phenotype
C521052:Kif11 protein, mouse; D016547:Kinesins