>>Published online before print November 10, 2003
Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 10.1073/pnas.2336103100
Genetics
Wnk1 kinase deficiency lowers blood pressure in mice: A gene-trap screen to identify potential targets for therapeutic intervention
Brian P. Zambrowicz *, Alejandro Abuin, Ramiro Ramirez-Solis, Lizabeth J. Richter, James Piggott, Hector BeltrandelRio, Eric C. Buxton, Joel Edwards, Rick A. Finch, Carl J. Friddle, Anupma Gupta, Gwenn Hansen, Yi Hu, Wenhu Huang, Crystal Jaing, Billie Wayne Key Jr., Peter Kipp, Buckley Kohlhauff, Zhi-Qing Ma, Diane Markesich, Robert Payne, David G. Potter, Ny Qian, Joseph Shaw, Jeff Schrick, Zheng-Zheng Shi, Mary Jean Sparks, Isaac Van Sligtenhorst, Peter Vogel, Wade Walke, Nianhua Xu, Qichao Zhu, Christophe Person, and Arthur T. Sands
Lexicon Genetics, 8800 Technology Forest Place, The Woodlands, TX 77381
Communicated by C. Thomas Caskey, Cogene Biotech Ventures, L.P., Houston, TX, September 23, 2003 (received for review August 13, 2003)
The availability of both the mouse and human genome sequences allows for the systematic discovery of human gene function through the use of the mouse as a model system. To accelerate the genetic determination of gene function, we have developed a sequence-tagged gene-trap library of >270,000 mouse embryonic stem cell clones representing mutations in 60% of mammalian genes. Through the generation and phenotypic analysis of knockout mice from this resource, we are undertaking a functional screen to identify genes regulating physiological parameters such as blood pressure. As part of this screen, mice deficient for the Wnk1 kinase gene were generated and analyzed. Genetic studies in humans have shown that large intronic deletions in WNK1 lead to its overexpression and are responsible for pseudohypoaldosteronism type II, an autosomal dominant disorder characterized by hypertension, increased renal salt reabsorption, and impaired K+ and H+ excretion. Consistent with the human genetic studies, Wnk1 heterozygous mice displayed a significant decrease in blood pressure. Mice homozygous for the Wnk1 mutation died during embryonic development before day 13 of gestation. These results demonstrate that Wnk1 is a regulator of blood pressure critical for development and illustrate the utility of a functional screen driven by a sequence-based mutagenesis approach.<<
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