Changes in gene expression following ADNP knockout

The putative transcription factor, activity-dependent neuroprotective protein (ADNP) is a zinc finger and homeodomain - like profile containing protein. ADNP knockout mice die at day 9 of gestation. To reveal ADNP-associated pathways, a 22,690- Affymetrix probe array was used on ADNP knockout and control embryos. References: Complete sequence of a novel protein containing a femtomolar-activity-dependent neuroprotective peptide. J Neurochem. 1999 Mar;72(3):1283-93. PMID: 10037502 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] Cloning and characterization of the human activity-dependent neuroprotective protein. J Biol Chem. 2001 Jan 5;276(1):708-14. PMID: 11013255 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] Activity-dependent neuroprotective protein: a novel gene essential for brain formation. Brain Res Dev Brain Res. 2003 Aug 12;144(1):83-90. PMID: 12888219 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] Keywords: Comparative gene knockout results To identify downstream target genes of ADNP, we examined global gene expression profiles of whole E9 knockout embryos (KO - ADNP -l-), their wild-type (WT - ADNP +l+ ) and their heterozygous (H - ADNP –l+ ) littermates, using the Affymetrix Murine Genome 430A oligonucleotide microarrays. Gestation day 9 was chosen as it is the period at which embryos lacking ADNP exhibit distinct morphological and developmental changes prior to degeneration and in uterus absorption. Total RNA was extracted from four ADNP knockout embryos, four normal embryos and six heterozygous embryos. A pool of two genotype identical littermates was used on seven different arrays (pooling of two embryos was necessary to obtain enough RNA on each of the gene microarrays).