Expression of Gpr161. Sagittal sections of E15.5 mouse embryos were subjected to cresyl violet staining (A) and to RNA in situ hybridization with radiolabeled anti-sense probe for Gpr161 (A'). Abbreviations: FB, forebrain; G, gut; MB, mid brain.

As Gpr161 knockout embryos are embryonic lethal by E10.5, its important to develop conditional knockout strategies for dissecting the role of this receptor during later embryonic and adult development.

Our initial studies show that this receptor is localized mostly in the hippocampal cilia of CA1 and CA2 pyramidal neurons in the adults. In addition, this receptor is also localized to other regions. Besides, the importance of the IFT-A complex in cystic kidney disease is apparent from recent conditional knockout studies (Jonassen et al., 2012). We are currently generating conditional knockouts of this receptor, and will subject these to temporal and tissue-specific knockouts for studying the role of this receptor in various tissues.

The transgenic mouse facilities and expertise from our colleagues in the departments of nephrology, neurology and developmental biology in UTSW would provide us with excellent in-house support during the course of these experiments.

References

Jonassen, J.A., Sanagustin, J., Baker, S.P., and Pazour, G.J. (2012). "Disruption of IFT Complex A Causes Cystic Kidneys without Mitotic Spindle Misorientation." J Am Soc Nephrol.