The study of genes mutated in human disease often leads to new insights into biology as well as disease mechanisms. One such gene is Wilms' tumour 1 (WT1), which plays multiple roles in development, tissue homeostasis and disease. In this Primer, I summarise how this multifaceted gene functions in various mammalian tissues and organs, including the kidney, gonads, heart and nervous system. This is followed by a discussion of our current understanding of the molecular mechanisms by which WT1 and its two major isoforms regulate these processes at the transcriptional and post-transcriptional levels.
Keywords: Developmental disorders; Homeostasis; Molecular mechanisms of disease; WT1.
© 2017. Published by The Company of Biologists Ltd.