Biomedical subjects

David R Beier

Publications and source records attributed to David R Beier.

23 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

PubMed2002

Comparative analysis of the mouse and human genes (Matn2 and MATN2) for matrilin-2, a filament-forming protein widely distributed in extracellular matrices.

We previously identified matrilin-2 (MATN2), the largest member of the novel family of matrilins. These filament-forming adapter proteins expressed in a distinct, but partially overlapping, pattern in all tissues were implicated in the organization of the extracellular matrix. Matrilin-2 functions in a great variety of tissues. Here, we present the genomic organization of the highly conserved mouse and human MATN2 loci, which cover >100 kb and 167.167 kb genomic regions, respectively, and are composed of 19 exons. RT-PCR analysis revealed that alternative transcripts with identical protein coding regions are transcribed from two promoters in both species. The upstream, housekeeping type promoter is functional in all tissues and cell types tested. The activity of the downstream, TATA-like promoter preceded with putative motifs for the homeobox transcription factor PRRX2 is restricted to embryonic fibroblasts and certain cell lines. The oligomerization module is split by an U12-type AT-AC intron found in conserved position in all four matrilin genes. We assigned Matn2 to mouse chromosome 15, linked to Trhr and Sntb1 in a region synthenic to human chromosome 8q22-24.

3T3 Cells↗

PubMed2002

Gene structure and functional analysis of the mouse nidogen-2 gene: nidogen-2 is not essential for basement membrane formation in mice.

Nidogens are highly conserved proteins in vertebrates and invertebrates and are found in almost all basement membranes. According to the classical hypothesis of basement membrane organization, nidogens connect the laminin and collagen IV networks, so stabilizing the basement membrane, and integrate other proteins. In mammals two nidogen proteins, nidogen-1 and nidogen-2, have been discovered. Nidogen-2 is typically enriched in endothelial basement membranes, whereas nidogen-1 shows broader localization in most basement membranes. Surprisingly, analysis of nidogen-1 gene knockout mice presented evidence that nidogen-1 is not essential for basement membrane formation and may be compensated for by nidogen-2. In order to assess the structure and in vivo function of the nidogen-2 gene in mice, we cloned the gene and determined its structure and chromosomal location. Next we analyzed mice carrying an insertional mutation in the nidogen-2 gene that was generated by the secretory gene trap approach. Our molecular and biochemical characterization identified the mutation as a phenotypic null allele. Nidogen-2-deficient mice show no overt abnormalities and are fertile, and basement membranes appear normal by ultrastructural analysis and immunostaining. Nidogen-2 deficiency does not lead to hemorrhages in mice as one may have expected. Our results show that nidogen-2 is not essential for basement membrane formation or maintenance.

Animals↗

PubMed2002

Cystin, a novel cilia-associated protein, is disrupted in the cpk mouse model of polycystic kidney disease.

The congenital polycystic kidney (cpk) mutation is the most extensively characterized mouse model of polycystic kidney disease (PKD). The renal cystic disease is fully expressed in homozygotes and is strikingly similar to human autosomal recessive PKD (ARPKD), whereas genetic background modulates the penetrance of the corresponding defect in the developing biliary tree. We now describe the positional cloning, mutation analysis, and expression of a novel gene that is disrupted in cpk mice. The cpk gene is expressed primarily in the kidney and liver and encodes a hydrophilic, 145-amino acid protein, which we term cystin. When expressed exogenously in polarized renal epithelial cells, cystin is detected in cilia, and its expression overlaps with polaris, another PKD-related protein. We therefore propose that the single epithelial cilium is important in the functional differentiation of polarized epithelia and that ciliary dysfunction underlies the PKD phenotype in cpk mice.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed2002

A defect in a novel Nek-family kinase causes cystic kidney disease in the mouse and in zebrafish.

The murine autosomal recessive juvenile cystic kidney (jck) mutation results in polycystic kidney disease. We have identified in jck mice a mutation in Nek8, a novel and highly conserved member of the Nek kinase family. In vitro expression of mutated Nek8 results in enlarged, multinucleated cells with an abnormal actin cytoskeleton. To confirm that a defect in the Nek8 gene can cause cystic disease, we performed a cross-species analysis: injection of zebrafish embryos with a morpholino anti-sense oligonucleotide corresponding to the ortholog of Nek8 resulted in the formation of pronephric cysts. These results demonstrate that comparative analysis of gene function in different model systems represents a powerful means to annotate gene function.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed2002

Magnetic resonance imaging assessment of a murine model of recessive polycystic kidney disease.

PURPOSE: The pathogenesis of polycystic kidney disease (PKD) has not been firmly established; however, our current knowledge of cystogenesis and human cystic disease has been greatly advanced by a variety of animal models of PKD. To study the onset and degree of cyst formation in PKD mouse models without requiring sacrifice of these animals, we have initiated magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies of the juvenile cystic kidney (jck) mouse model. METHODS: The MRI experiments were performed by use of a Bruker 8.5 T system, on seven-week-old mice that were homozygous for the recessive jck mutation and that manifested PKD. Kidney volume was measured, using three-dimensional segmentation postprocessing techniques. RESULTS: The MR images of the enlarged kidneys from affected mice had regions of high signal intensity, with a radial distribution, which reflected the dilated collecting ducts observed in the corresponding histologic slices. The volume of PKD-affected kidney was about 4 times greater than that of the normal kidney. CONCLUSIONS: Magnetic resonance imaging has the ability to non-invasively assess cystic disease in mouse models of PKD. Of considerable importance is the opportunity to characterize this disease without sacrificing the animal. The three-dimensional MRI segmentation method provides accurate calculation of renal volume.

Animals↗