Transcription factor gene AP-2γ essential for early murine development

Transcription factor gene AP-2gamma belongs to a family of four closely related genes. AP-2gamma had been implicated in multiple functions during proliferation and differentiation based on its expression pattern in trophoblast, neural crest, and ectoderm cells in murine embryos. In order to address the question of the role of AP-2gamma during mammalian development, we generated mice harboring a disrupted AP-2gamma allele. AP-2gamma heterozygous mice are viable and display reduced body sizes at birth but are fertile. Mice deficient for AP-2gamma, however, are growth retarded and die at days 7 to 9 of embryonic development. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed that the trophectodermal cells that are found to express AP-2gamma fail to proliferate, leading to failure of labyrinth layer formation. As a consequence, the developing embryo suffers from malnutrition and dies. Analysis of embryo cultures suggests that AP-2gamma is also implicated in the regulation of the adenosine deaminase (ADA) gene, a gene involved in purine metabolism found expressed at the maternal-fetal interface. Therefore, AP-2gamma seems to be required in early embryonic development because it regulates the genetic programs controlling proliferation and differentiation of extraembryonic trophectodermal cells.