CHARACTERIZATION OF KINECTIN IN VITRO AND IN VIVO USING KINECTIN KNOCKOUT MICE MODEL

Abstract

Kinectin is an integral ER protein found expressed in almost all cell types in the body, and has been implicated in many diverse diseases. Despite this, not much is known about kinectin function in vivo. Thus, knockout mice was generated to study the physiological function of kinectin. The knockout mice was put through a thorough phenotypic screen to detect any differences from control mice. Some subtle but significant differences were detected in behaviour, neurology, clinical chemistry, eye and spleen. Subtle differences were detected under normal conditions, but more stark differences were seen under stress condition of acute drug induced liver injury. Harvested knockout MEF cells were characterised and compared with results from previous in vitro studies and further studies on the role of kinectin-dependent ER transportation on focal adhesion.