Zmym2

At E8.5 most Zmym2 ^-/- embryos are indistinguishable from control littermates (n=11/16), although some (generally older 8.5) have abnormally shaped heads (n=5/16). By E9.5 all Zmym2 ^-/- embryos are small when compared with littermates and less than half delayed (n=7/16), a majority display turning defects (n= 8/15) and many display abnormally shaped heads (n=14/16) and abnormally developed hearts (n=9/15). Cranial neural tube closure is incomplete in roughly half of the E9.5 mutants (n=8/15) and branchial arch/pouch defects are detected in many (n=10/14). The yolk sacs of many mutant embryos display improper vascular development (n= 9/15) and many display aberrant blood pooling in the yolk sac and regions proximal to the heart. E10.5 Zmym2 ^-/-embryos are delayed and all have abnormal head shape, overall delay and most display incomplete turning or abnormal tail shape.

All E9.5 Zmym2^-/- placentas examined (n=3) exhibit an expanded Tpbpa+ spongiotrophoblast layer when compared to littermate controls while the labyrinth zone appears to develops normally.

E8.5 Zmym2 ^-/- embryos have all initiated typical heart, foregut and neural tube development (n=3).

The 4-panel IF and accompanying H&E reveals the maintenance of appropriate germ layer specification in sectioned mutant Zmym2 embryos (n=3). Although many E9.5 Zmym2 ^-/- are incompletely turned, the anterior gut tube has closed and the liver bud has initiated formation.

In situ hybridization of whole WT E8.5-9.5 embryos is used to detect endogenous Zmym2 expression. While Zmym2 appears ubiquitously expressed at E8.5, its expression at E9.5 appears more restricted.

Endogenous Zmym2 expression is not convincingly detected in sectioned WT placentas at E9.5-10.5.

Accession number: NM_029498.4