The Importance of Basonuclin 2 in Adult Mice and Its Relation to Basonuclin 1

The study from 7 years ago investigated the role of basonuclin 2 (BNC2) and its relationship with basonuclin 1 (BNC1) in adult mice. BNC2 was found to be crucial in the development of craniofacial bones, male germ cells, and hair follicles. BNC2 was required for hair follicle cycling, and its absence led to underdeveloped hair follicles that remained in the resting phase. BNC1 could not compensate for the lack of BNC2. BNC2 was also found to be essential for oocyte maturation, and its absence led to abnormal follicles and signs of oocyte degeneration. BNC2 was crucial for both fetal and postnatal growth, with its absence resulting in severe dwarfism. The dwarfism was not due to reduced levels of growth hormone or insulin-like growth factor 1, but likely due to BNC2 promoting the multiplication of chondrocytes in the growth plate of long bones. BNC2 was also necessary for the morphogenesis of rugae and proper multiplication of chondrocytes in the growth plate of long bones. BNC2 was required for the cell multiplication that marks the beginning of anagen, the active growth phase of hair follicles. In the absence of BNC2, hair follicles remained in telogen, the resting phase.