Novel mouse embryonic renal marker gene products differentially expressed during kidney development

Investigators approaching the problem of renal organogenesis have been hampered by a paucity of suitable molecular markers that specify distinct developmental phenotypes. To identify such markers, differential display-polymerase chain reaction (DD-PCR) was used to survey the temporal pattern of gene expression in mouse kidney at 11.5, 13.5, 15.5, and 17.5 days after conception and in the adult kidney. Twentytwo differentially expressed amplification products were identified, isolated, and sequenced. Seventeen clones showed no significant similarity with previously reported nucleotide sequences: two were similar to two housekeeping gene products, and three were similar to human or rat expressed sequence tags. To confirm the differential expression patterns observed by DD-PCR, semiquantitative reverse transcriptionPCR was performed using sequence-specific oligonucleotide primers. Nineteen of 22 clones were differentially expressed during kidney development [mouse embryonic renal marker (MERM) sequences 1-19]. The value of MERMs as developmental markers was further assessed in mouse metanephric organ culture, where the pattern of MERM transcript expression mimicked that observed in vivo. Therefore, the DD-PCR method permitted development of a panel of marker sequences that can be used to characterize renal developmental processes and that may allow the identification of novel, functionally relevant gene products.