Homozygous mice are viable and fertile. Transcripts from the targeted gene are absent in homozygous liver, eyelid, skin, and white adipose tissues. In addition, the endogenous protein and enzyme activity are absent from homozygous liver tissue. Homozygous mice exhibit cutaneous abnormalities and narrow eye fissure with atrophic sebaceous and meibomian glands. Mutant mice also have reduced body adiposity, increased insulin sensitivity, increased basal and insulin-mediated glucose uptake, and are resistant to diet-induced weight gain. Homozygotes have altered hepatic glycerophospholipid profiles. Homozygous mice are not recommended for breeding as skin lesion severity may prohibit colony success. These mutant mice may be useful in studies of monounsaturated fatty acid synthesis, cholesterol homeostasis, skin disease, obesity, and diabetes.
In an attempt to offer alleles on well-characterized or multiple genetic backgrounds, alleles are frequently moved to a genetic background different from that on which an allele was first characterized. This is the case for this strain. It should be noted that the phenotype could vary from that originally described. We will modify the strain description as published results become available.
