title: Essential role for the SLK protein kinase in embryogenesis and placental tissue development.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Over the past decade, the Ste20-like kinase SLK, has been implicated in several signaling processes. SLK repression has been shown to impair cell cycle kinetics and inhibit FAK-mediated cell migration. Here, using a gene trapped allele, we have generated mice expressing a truncated form of the SLK kinase.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Our results show that an SLK-LacZ fusion protein is expressed in embryonic stem cells and in embryos throughout development. We find that the SLK-LacZ fusion protein is less efficient at phosphorylating substrates resulting in reduced cell proliferation within the embryos and angiogenic defects in the placentae of the homozygous mutant animals at embryonic day (E) 12.5. This results in marked developmental defects and apoptotic lesions in the embryos by E14.5.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Homozygotes expressing the SLK-LacZ fusion protein present with an embryonic lethal phenotype occurring between E12.5 and E14.5. Overall, we demonstrate a requirement for SLK kinase activity in the developing embryo and placenta.
authors.forename: Khalid N
authors.initials: KN
authors.lastname: Al-Zahrani
authors.forename: Prabhjot
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sekhon
authors.forename: Daniel R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Tessier
authors.forename: Julien
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yockell-Lelievre
authors.forename: Benjamin R
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Pryce
authors.forename: Kyla D
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Baron
authors.forename: Grant A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Howe
authors.forename: Roshan K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Sriram
authors.forename: Kate
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Daniel
authors.forename: Marlene
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mckay
authors.forename: Vivian
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Lo
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Quizi
authors.forename: Christina L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Addison
authors.forename: Andrée
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gruslin
authors.forename: Luc A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Sabourin
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian / Q000166:cytology / Q000201:enzymology*; D047108:Embryonic Development / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D010920:Placenta / Q000166:cytology / Q000201:enzymology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011257:Pregnancy Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D000099317:Hippo Kinases
chemical_list: D011257:Pregnancy Proteins; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases; C402650:SLK protein, mouse; D000099317:Hippo Kinases