Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 29, 2026

A Possible Zebrafish Model of Polycystic Kidney Disease: Knockdown of wnt5a Causes Cysts in Zebrafish Kidneys
10:51

A Possible Zebrafish Model of Polycystic Kidney Disease: Knockdown of wnt5a Causes Cysts in Zebrafish Kidneys

Published on: December 2, 2014

Knockout of ERK5 causes multiple defects in placental and embryonic development

Lijun Yan1, Julia Carr, Peter R Ashby

  • 1MRC Protein Phosphorylation Unit, University of Dundee, Dundee, DD1 5EH, UK. l.yan@dundee.ac.uk

BMC Developmental Biology
|December 17, 2003
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Extracellular signal-regulated kinase 5 (ERK5) is vital for embryonic development. ERK5 knockout mice exhibit developmental defects and embryonic lethality around day 10.5, underscoring its essential role.

Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Developmental Biology
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Extracellular signal-regulated kinase 5 (ERK5) is part of the mitogen-activated protein kinase family.
  • ERK5 is activated by mitogenic or stressful stimuli.
  • The precise physiological function of ERK5 in cellular processes remains largely undetermined.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To elucidate the physiological function of ERK5 in mammalian development.
  • To investigate the consequences of ERK5 gene inactivation in vivo.

Main Methods:

  • Gene targeting was employed to create ERK5 knockout mice (ERK5-/-).
  • In situ hybridization was used to analyze the expression patterns of ERK5 and its activator MKK5.
  • Embryonic development was monitored from E9.5 to E10.5 for morphological and cellular abnormalities.

Main Results:

  • ERK5 knockout mice exhibited embryonic lethality around embryonic day 10.5 (E10.5).
  • Significant expression of ERK5 and MKK5 was observed in the embryonic head and trunk at E10.5.
  • ERK5-/- embryos displayed increased apoptosis in cephalic mesenchyme, hindgut abnormalities, and defects in vascular remodeling, cardiac development, and placental formation.

Conclusions:

  • ERK5 is indispensable for early embryonic development in mice.
  • The study highlights ERK5's critical role in vascular system development.
  • ERK5 is essential for maintaining cell survival during embryogenesis.

More Related Videos

Mouse In Vivo Placental Targeted CRISPR Manipulation07:39

Mouse In Vivo Placental Targeted CRISPR Manipulation

Published on: April 14, 2023

Large-scale Gene Knockdown in C. elegans Using dsRNA Feeding Libraries to Generate Robust Loss-of-function Phenotypes18:38

Large-scale Gene Knockdown in C. elegans Using dsRNA Feeding Libraries to Generate Robust Loss-of-function Phenotypes

Published on: September 25, 2013

Related Concept Videos

In-vitro Mutagenesis (Gene Knockouts)02:29

In-vitro Mutagenesis (Gene Knockouts)

To learn more about the function of a gene, researchers can observe what happens when the gene is inactivated or “knocked out,” by creating genetically engineered knockout animals. Knockout mice have been particularly useful as models for human diseases such as cancer, Parkinson’s disease, and diabetes.
Teratogenicity01:07

Teratogenicity

The ability of a drug to produce structural deformations and functional abnormalities in the developing embryo or the fetus is called teratogenicity, and the drug producing this effect is known as a teratogen. Teratogenic effects include stillbirth, miscarriage, intrauterine growth restriction, and neurocognitive delay. A teratogen may affect the embryo at different stages of development, which is important in determining the type and extent of the damage. During blastocyst formation, the early...