Figure 1

Dapk2 null mice possess fewer αSMA expressing interstitial cells. (A) Exon 2, containing the translation start site, was replaced by a PGK:NEO cassette with internal LoxP and FRT sites. (B) Western blotting using a polyclonal c-terminal specific antibody demonstrates that the null mouse does not express DAPK2 at the protein level in kidney. Representative Masson’s Trichrome staining from six (C) wild type and (D) six Dapk2 null kidney sections show no gross histological differences between genotypes. (E-F) Representative αSMA staining (black arrows) showing fewer positive interstitial cells in mutant mice. (G) Graph depicting the relative levels of staining between mice of both genotypes normalized to wild type values. Quantitative analysis is based on 15 fields in untreated mice. Scale bars = 50 μM. Dashed circles mark glomeruli. Abbreviations: B, BamHI; H, HindIII; K, KpnI; R, EcoRI; LA, long arm of targeting construct; SA, short arm of targeting construct.