Hair Defects and Pup Loss in Mice with Targeted Deletion of the First Cut Repeat Domain of the Cux/CDP Homeoprotein Gene

The study investigated the effects of deleting the first cut repeat domain of the Cux/CDP homeoprotein gene in mice. Researchers created a mutant form of the protein with an internal deletion of 246 amino acids, leading to a phenotype with curly vibrissae and wavy hair. Additionally, there was a high degree of pup loss in litters from mutant females, likely due to nutritional issues. The mutant protein was present at slightly higher levels than the wild-type and maintained normal tissue distribution and affinity for target sequences. The findings suggested that different DNA binding domains of the Cux/CDP protein regulated various genes in diverse tissues during development.