Transcriptional enhancer factor 1 disruption by a retroviral gene trap leads to heart defects and embryonic lethality in mice

We have used a retroviral gene trap in embryonic stem (ES) cells to derive a recessive embryonic lethal mouse strain, ROSAβ-geo5. Mutant embryos display an enlarged pericardial cavity, brachycardia, a dilated fourth ventricle in the brain, and die between embryonic days 11 and 12. Whereas heart development in the mutant embryos is extensive, the ventricular wall is abnormally thin with a reduced number of trabeculae. Cloning of the trapped gene indicates that proviral insertion creates a null mutation in the transcriptional enhancer factor 1 (TEF-1) gene. Although transcription of a number of muscle-specific genes believed to be TEF-1 targets appears normal, the defect in cardiogenesis is likely attributable to diminished transcription of one or several cardiac-specific genes.