Lsh, a SNF2 family member, is required for normal murine development

Lsh is a member of the SNF2 family of chromatin remodelers, that regulate d iverse biological processes such as replication, repair and transcription. Although expression of Lsh is highly tissue specific in adult animals, Lsh mRNA is detectable in multiple tissues during embryogenesis. In order to de termine the physiologic role of Lsh during murine development and to assess its unique function in adult mice, we performed targeted deletion of the L sh gene using homologous recombination in murine embryonic stem cells. Lsh- /- embryos occurred with the expected Mendelian frequency after implantatio n and during embryogenesis. However, Lsh-/- mice died within a few hours af ter birth. Furthermore, newborn mice were 22% lower in weight in comparison with their littermates and showed renal lesions. Thus Lsh is a non-redunda nt member of the SNF2 family and is essential for normal murine development and survival. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.