Targeted Disruption of the MORG1 Gene in Mice Causes Embryonic Resorption in Early Phase of Development.

The mitogen-activated protein kinase organizer 1 (MORG1) is a scaffold molecule for the ERK signaling pathway, but also binds to prolyl-hydroxylase 3 and modulates HIFα expression. To obtain further insight into the role of MORG1, knockout-mice were generated by homologous recombination. While Morg1+/- mice developed normally without any apparent phenotype, there were no live-born Morg1-/- knockout offspring, indicating embryonic lethality.