Volume 2, Number 1, March 2001

Gene targeting studies of angiotensin II type 1 (AT₁) receptors
Thomas M Coffman, Laurent P Audoly, Michael I Oliverio

Over the past decade, the technique of gene targeting using homologous recombination in embryonic stem cells has become accessible to most laboratories. The ability to generate animals bearing precise and pre-planned alterations in their genome has dramatically expanded the scope of biomedical investigation. For now, the mouse is the only mammalian species in which gene targeting can be accomplished, because germ line-competent embryonic stem (ES) cells have so far only been isolated from mice. In disciplines such as immunology, a long experience with the mouse as an experimental model facilitated the rapid application and widespread use of gene targeting.¹ In contrast, the small body size of the mouse and lack of experience in using the mouse for whole animal experiments created some impediments to implementing this technology in the physiological sciences. However, many of the technical hurdles for performing physiological experiments in mice have been overcome and such studies have now become almost routine. Accordingly, over the past five years, gene targeting approaches have been applied to a wide range of physiological systems including the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS).

JRAAS 2001;2:10-15.

View full PDF article (open in new window)
Export to bibliographic software or plain text
Email this article