Click here to close Hello! We notice that you are using Internet Explorer, which is not supported by Xenbase and may cause the site to display incorrectly. We suggest using a current version of Chrome, FireFox, or Safari.
XB-ART-46577
Nat Commun 2013 Jan 01;4:1398. doi: 10.1038/ncomms2408.
Show Gene links Show Anatomy links

The phosphatase Dullard negatively regulates BMP signalling and is essential for nephron maintenance after birth.

Sakaguchi M , Sharmin S , Taguchi A , Ohmori T , Fujimura S , Abe T , Kiyonari H , Komatsu Y , Mishina Y , Asashima M , Araki E , Nishinakamura R .


???displayArticle.abstract???
Most kidney nephron components, including glomeruli and renal tubules, derive from the metanephric mesenchyme. The overall differentiation into each component finishes at birth, but the molecular events linking the perinatal and adult kidneys remain elusive. Dullard was cloned from Xenopus kidneys, and encodes a phosphatase that negatively regulates BMP signalling. Here we report that Dullard deletion in the murine metanephric mesenchyme leads to failure of nephron maintenance after birth, resulting in lethality before adulthood. The nephron components are lost by massive apoptosis within 3 weeks after birth, leading to formation of a large hollow with a thin-layered cortex and medulla. Phosphorylated Smad1/5/8 is upregulated in the mutant nephrons, probably through cell-autonomous inhibitory effects of Dullard on BMP signalling. Importantly, administration of the BMP receptor kinase inhibitor LDN-193189 partially rescued the defects caused by Dullard deletion. Thus, Dullard keeps BMP signalling at an appropriate level, which is required for nephron maintenance in the postnatal period.

???displayArticle.pubmedLink??? 23360989
???displayArticle.link??? Nat Commun


Species referenced: Xenopus
Genes referenced: ctdnep1 smad1

References [+] :
Bertram, Human nephron number: implications for health and disease. 2011, Pubmed