Mk. Duncan et al., EXPRESSION OF THE HELIX-LOOP-HELIX PROTEIN, ID, DURING BRANCHING MORPHOGENESIS IN THE KIDNEY, Kidney international, 46(2), 1994, pp. 324-332
Id, a member of the helix-loop-helix protein family, is an inhibitor o
f transcriptional activation by basic-helix-loop-helix proteins. In th
e developing mouse kidney, Id mRNA was observed as early as 12.5 days
post-coitum (dpc) specifically in the condensed mesenchyme surrounding
the ureteric buds by in situ hybridization. At 14.5 dpc, Id mRNA was
localized to the collecting tubules and developing glomeruli while the
surrounding mesenchyme lacked Id hybridization. From birth to day 10
postnatal, Id mRNA is localized to the collecting tubules, immature gl
omeruli and renal pelvis. In the adult kidney, Id mRNA was detectable
by Northern blot analysis but no cell type-specific localization was n
oted by in situ hybridization. These results indicate a role for HLH-b
HLH proteins in the differentiation of the epithelial structures of th
e kidney.