Glomerular filtration is one of the primary functions of the kidney. Podocytes, a highly
specialized cell type found in glomeruli, are believed to play a critical role in that function.
Null mutations of genes expressed in podocytes like WT1, nephrin, and NEPH1 result in an
embryo and perinatal lethal phenotype and therefore do not allow the functional analysis of
these genes in the adult kidney. Here is describes the generation of a model that will allow
such studies. We have engineered transgenic mice in which the disruption of targeted genes …