Tg(Hoxb7-Ret)1Cos

The transgene consists of a mouse Ret cDNA encoding the RET9 isoform fused to mouse Hoxb7 promoter sequences (-1316 to +81). Mouse Hoxb7 promoter was used to drive expression of the transgene throughout the uretic bud branches. The construct used contained a deletion of all but 20 bp of the 5' non-coding region of Ret9 eliminating an out-of-frame ATG located at position 169 upstream from the initiation codon at position 201. This truncation may have increased the translational efficiency of Ret9 mRNA leading to variable dominant renal defects observed in some transgenic mice. Expression of the transgene was confirmed by Northern blot analysis of brain and kidney samples from transgenic animals. (J:52988)