| abstract |
The present invention relates to transgenic animals, as well as compositions and methods relating to the characterization of gene function. Specifically, the present invention provides transgenic mice comprising mutations in a target gene. Such transgenic mice are useful as models for disease and for identifying agents that modulate gene expression and gene function, and as potential treatments for various disease states and disease conditions. The transgenic animals of the present invention are defective in the function of a cysteine protease-like gene, a platelet activating factor receptor gene, a phenol sulfotransferase gene or an orphan G protein-coupled receptor /GPR-22) gene. In another aspect, the transgenic animals of the present invention compromise a phenotype associated with having a mutation in a cysteine protease-like gene, a platelet activating factor receptor gene, phonol sulfotransferase gene or an orphan G potein-coupled receptor (GPR-22) gene. |