Essential function of p300 acetyltransferase activity in heart, lung and small intestine formation.

p300 and CBP are large nuclear acetyltransferases exhibiting a complex multi-domain structure. Mouse embryos nullizygous for either p300 or Cbp die at midgestation, while heterozygotes are viable but in part display defects in neurulation or bone morphogenesis. To directly examine the contribution of the acetyltransferase (AT) activity to mouse development, we have abrogated this function by a knock-in approach.