Alterations in cell growth and signaling in ErbB3 binding protein-1 (Ebp1) deficient mice.
BACKGROUND
The ErbB3 binding protein-1 (Ebp1) belongs to a family of DNA/RNA binding proteins implicated in cell growth, apoptosis and differentiation. However, the physiological role of Ebp1 in the whole organism is not known. Therefore, we generated Ebp1-deficient mice carrying a gene trap insertion in intron 2 of the Ebp1 (pa2g4) gene.


RESULTS
Ebp1-/- mice were on average 30% smaller than wild type and heterozygous sex matched littermates. Growth retardation was apparent from Day 10 until Day 30. IGF-1 production and IGBP-3 and 4 protein levels were reduced in both embryo fibroblasts and adult knock-out mice. The proliferation of fibroblasts derived from Day 12.5 knock out embryos was also decreased as compared to that of wild type cells. Microarray expression analysis revealed changes in genes important in cell growth including members of the MAPK signal transduction pathway. In addition, the expression or activation of proliferation related genes such as AKT and the androgen receptor, previously demonstrated to be affected by Ebp1 expression in vitro, was altered in adult tissues.


CONCLUSIONS
These results indicate that Ebp1 can affect growth in an animal model, but that the expression of proliferation related genes is cell and context specific. The Ebp1-/- mouse line represents a new in vivo model to investigate Ebp1 function in the whole organism.
Zhang
Yuexing
Y
Department of Pathology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA. yzhan001@umaryland.edu
Lu
Yan
Y
Zhou
Hua
H
Lee
Myounghee
M
Liu
Zhenqiu
Z
Hassel
Bret A
BA
Hamburger
Anne W
AW
D000818:Animals; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D003433:Crosses, Genetic; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D053595:Embryonic Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D018390:Gene Targeting; D006579:Heterozygote; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D008954:Models, Biological; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000172:deficiency* / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology
D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; C095938:Pa2g4 protein, mouse; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins