Abstract:

There are few studies on the membrane protein Ankfy1. We have found Ankfy1 is specifcally expressed in neural stem/precursor cells during early development in mice (murine). To further explore Ankfy1 function in neural development, we developed a gene knockout mouse with a mixed Balb/C and C57/BL6 genetic background. Using immuno?uorescence and in situ hybridization, neural defects were absent in mixed genetic Ankfy1 null mice during development and in adults up to 2 months old. However, Ankfy1 gene knockout mice with a pure genetic background were found to be lethal in the C57/BL6 inbred mice embryos, even afer seven generations of backcrossing. Polymerase chain reaction confrmed homozygotes were unattainable as early as embryonic day 11.5. We conclude that Ankfy1 protein is dispensable in neural stem/precursor cells, but could be critical for early embryonic murine development, depending on the genetic background.

Key words: nerve regeneration, Ankfy1, neural development, genetic background, protein, function, gene knockout, neural stem/precursor cells, embryo, neural regeneration