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Updated: Jul 19, 2026
08:06
Isolation and Culture of Cells from the Nephrogenic Zone of the Embryonic Mouse Kidney
Published on: April 22, 2011
Odd-skipped genes encode repressors that control kidney development
Juan J Tena1, Ana Neto, Elisa de la Calle-Mustienes
1Centro Andaluz de Biología del Desarrollo, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas/Universidad Pablo de Olavide, Carretera de Utrera Km1, 41013 Sevilla, Spain.
Developmental Biology
|October 3, 2006
Summary
Odd-skipped (Osr) transcription factors are crucial for kidney development across species. Both Osr1 and Osr2 are essential for pronephros formation in Xenopus and zebrafish, highlighting conserved roles in renal organogenesis.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Biology
- Genetics
- Comparative Biology
Background:
- Odd-skipped (Osr) proteins are evolutionarily conserved zinc finger transcription factors.
- Mammalian genomes contain two Osr genes (Osr1 and Osr2).
- Previous research indicated Osr1 is essential for murine kidney development, but Osr2's role was unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the roles of Osr1 and Osr2 in kidney development in non-mammalian vertebrates.
- To explore the evolutionary conservation of Odd-skipped genes in renal organogenesis.
Main Methods:
- Gene expression analysis in Xenopus and zebrafish embryos.
- Knockdown studies using morpholinos to inhibit Osr1 and Osr2 function.
- Overexpression experiments to assess ectopic kidney tissue formation.
- Functional analysis of Drosophila Odd in Xenopus kidney development.
Main Results:
- Both Osr1 and Osr2 are necessary and sufficient for pronephros development in Xenopus and zebrafish.
- Osr genes are expressed in early pronephric precursor cells.
- Impaired kidney development was observed in morphant embryos lacking either Osr1 or Osr2.
- Overexpression of Osr genes led to the formation of ectopic kidney tissue.
- Drosophila Odd can induce kidney tissue in Xenopus, potentially via Groucho-like co-repressors.
Conclusions:
- Odd-skipped transcription factors (Osr1 and Osr2) play a conserved and essential role in kidney development across vertebrates and invertebrates.
- Osr proteins function as transcriptional repressors during kidney formation.
- This study underscores the fundamental importance of the Odd-skipped gene family in the evolution of renal systems.
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