Altarejos et al. reply:
We find Cardinaux's correspondence1 quite interesting. Both laboratories used a practically identical approach to knock out the Crtc1 gene in similar genetic strains. In contrast to the infertility that we observed in our Crtc1−/− mice2, Cardinaux found that Crtc1-mutant mice show only a mild reproductive phenotype1. The energy balance phenotypes appear quite consistent between the two groups, however.
Although we are not sure why there is a discrepancy in the fertility phenotype, it may reflect the different substrains used. The lack of a reproductive phenotype could also reflect compensatory upregulation of other CRTC family members, a consideration that will require further study. We should also note that disruption of the single CRTC homolog in Drosophila melanogaster disrupts energy balance and reduces fertility3.
References
Breuillaud, L., Halfon, O., Magistretti, P.J., Pralong, F.P. & Cardinaux, J.-R. Nat. Med. 15, 989–990 (2009).
Altarejos, J.Y. et al. The Creb1 coactivator Crtc1 is required for energy balance and fertility. Nat. Med. 14, 1112–1117 (2008).
Wang, B. et al. The insulin-regulated CREB coactivator TORC promotes stress resistance in Drosophila. Cell Metab. 7, 434–444 (2008).
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Altarejos, J., Goebel, N., Conkright, M. et al. Reply to: “Mouse fertility is not dependent on the CREB coactivator Crtc1”. Nat Med 15, 991 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1038/nm0909-991a
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/nm0909-991a
