Isolation, characterization, and expression of the murine Wilms' tumor gene (WT1) during kidney development.

摘要: The human Wilms' tumor predisposition gene, WT1, is a Cys-His zinc finger polypeptide which appears to be transcription factor controlling gene expression during embryonic kidney development. In order analyze the role of WT1 in nephroblast differentiation, we have isolated murine homolog WT1. An extremely high level amino acid sequence conservation (greater than 95%) extends throughout all regions predicted mouse and polypeptides. Two alternative splices within transcript been conserved between mice humans, suggesting that these functional significance. Expression mRNA fetal increases late gestation, peaks just prior or shortly after birth, declines dramatically by 15 days postpartum. Developmental regulation selective for kidney. restriction limited number tissues contrast previously described suppressor genes. addition, narrow window time expressed at levels consistent with origin from primitive nephroblasts postulated this as negative regulator growth.