Smad6^tm1Glvn

A cassette containing an NLS-lacZ gene adjoined to a neo gene replaced the 5' terminus of the exon encoding the MH2 domain, which has been implicated as the major effector domain. Northern blot analyses of lung tissue detected the lacZ fusion transcript, lacking the targeted MH2 domain, in mutant mice. Comparison of X-gal staining and in situ hybridization results showed that the expression pattern of beta-galactosidase resembled that of the endogenous locus in wild-type mice, with the exception of upregulation in the epi- and endocardial cells of the right atrium in homozygous mutant mice. (J:60214)