A mutation in the epidermal growth factor receptor in waved-2 mice has a profound effect on receptor biochemistry that results in impaired lactation

The mutant mouse waved-2 (wa-2) is strikingly similar to transforming growth factor alpha-deficient mice generated by gene targeting in embryonic stem cells. We confirm that wa-2 is a point mutation (T-->G resulting in a valine-->glycine substitution at residue 743) in the gene encoding the epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor. wa-2 fibroblastic cells lack high-affinity binding sites for EGF, and the rate of internalization of EGF is retarded. Although the tyrosine kinase activity of wa-2 EGF receptors is significantly impaired, NIH 3T3 cells lacking endogenous EGF receptors but overexpressing recombinant wa-2 EGF receptor cDNA are mitogenically responsive to EGF. While young and adult wa-2 mice are healthy and fertile, 35% of wa-2 mice born of homozygous wa-2 mothers die of malnutrition because of impaired maternal lactation.

Immunohistochemical localization of transthyretin in glomerular peripolar cells of newborn sheep

Purified transthyretin has been isolated from sheep serum. Antiserum raised against this protein has been used with an indirect immunoperoxidase histochemical technique to identify transthyretin in newborn lamb kidney tissue. Transthyretin was found in proximal tubule cells and in glomerular peripolar cells. Preabsorption studies using purified transthyretin protein indicate that the immunoreactivity of the antiserum is specific to transthyretin.