Knockout mouse model and gametogenic failure

To evaluate the function of a defined gene in gametogenesis, exciting oppor tunities are offered by the introduction of techniques to generate knockout mice. In this short article, we briefly describe a few gene knockout mouse models, which show a phenotype that involves impairment of gametogenesis a nd/or fertility. The focus will be on the mHR6B gene knockout mouse, which shows male infertility. The mHR6B gene encodes an ubiquitin-conjugating enz yme, and the data point to an important role of the ubiquitin pathway in ga metogenesis. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.