Targeted disruption of the mouse phospholipase C β3 gene results in early embryonic lethality

AbstractIn order to investigate the biological function of phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C (PLC) we generated mutant mice by gene targeting. Homozygous inactivation of PLCβ3 is lethal at embryonic day 2.5. These mutants show poor embryonic organization as well as reduced numbers of cells. Identical phenotypes were recorded in homozygous mutants generated from two independently targeted embryonic stem cell clones. Heterozygous mutant mice, however, are viable and fertile for at least two generations. We also showed that mouse PLCβ3 is expressed in unfertilized eggs, 3-cell and egg cylinder stages of embryos. In conclusion, these results indicate that PLCβ3 expression is essential for early mouse embryonic development