Miscarriage Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Miscarriage, including details on signs, symptoms, recurrent, pregnancy.

Targeted disruption of the mouse Asna1 gene results in embryonic lethality.

Mukhopadhyay R, Ho YS, Swiatek PJ, Rosen BP, Bhattacharjee H

Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Wayne State University, School of Medicine, 540 East Canfield Avenue, Detroit, MI 48201, USA.

The bacterial ArsA ATPase is the catalytic component of an oxyanion pump that is responsible for resistance to arsenicals and antimonials. Homologues of the bacterial ArsA ATPase are widespread in nature. We had earlier identified the mouse homologue (Asna1) that exhibits 27% identity to the bacterial ArsA ATPase. To identify the physiological role of the protein, heterozygous Asna1 knockout mice (Asna1+/-) were generated by homologous recombination. The Asna1+/- mice displayed similar phenotype as the wild-type mice. However, early embryonic lethality was observed in homozygous Asna1 knockout embryos, between E3.5 (E=embryonic day) and E8.5 stage. These findings indicate that Asna1 plays a crucial role during early embryonic development.

Published 3 July 2006 in FEBS Lett, 580(16): 3889-94.
Full-text of this article is available online (may require subscription).

© 2004-2008 Miscarriage Research Today. All Rights Reserved.