Genetic analysis of a guanine nucleotide exchanging factor involved in neural tube morphogenesis

神经管形态发生异常导致神经管畸形，包括脊柱裂和无脑畸形。我们发现了一种新的鸟嘌呤核苷酸交换因子，WGF介导了Wnt-PCP途径，并调节了两栖动物胚胎中神经管的形态发生运动。在这项研究中，我试图产生一个条件基因敲除的Wgef基因小鼠，作为神经管缺陷的哺乳动物模型。到目前为止，在ES细胞中通过同源重组引入了条件基因敲除等位基因。利用这种ES细胞，已经产生了携带WGF条件性基因敲除细胞的嵌合体小鼠。

Abnormal morphogenesis of the neural tube leads to neural tube defects including spina bifida and anencephaly. We found that a novel guanine nucleotide exchanging factor, WGEF mediates Wnt-PCP pathway, and regulates morphogenic movements of neural tube in the amphibian embryo. In this study, I attempted to generate a conditional knockout mouse of WGEF gene as a mammalian model of neural tube defects. So far, a conditional knockout allele on the WGEF locus was introduced by homologous recombination in the ES cells. Using this ES cells, chimera mice carrying WGEF conditional knockout cells have been generated.