Description
Although expansion of a polyglutamine tract in ATAXIN1 (ATXN1) causes Spinocerebellar ataxia type 1, the functions of wild-type ATXN1 and ATAXIN1-Like (ATXN1L) remain poorly understood. To gain insight into the function of these proteins, we generated and characterized Atxn1L-/- and Atxn1-/- ; Atxn1L-/- double mutant animals. We found that Atxn1L -/- mice have several developmental problems including hydrocephalus, omphalocoele and lung alveolarization defects. These phenotypes are more penetrant and severe in Atxn1-/- ; Atxn1L-/- mice, suggesting that Atxn1 and Atxn1L are functionally redundant.