Targeted deletion of Nm23/nucleoside diphosphate kinase A and B reveals their requirement for definitive erythropoiesis in the mouse embryo

The ubiquitously expressed nucleoside diphosphate kinases (Nm23/NDPK/Awd) are a large family of multifunctional enzymes implicated in nucleic acid metabolism and in normal and abnormal development. Here, we describe the generation and characterization of NDPK A‐ and B‐deficient ( Nme1 −/− / Nme2 −/− ) mice in which >95% of the enzyme activity is eliminated. These mice are undersized, die perinatally, and exhibit a spectrum of hematological...