A non-human animal which has a reduced amount of functional TAZ polypeptide and/or TAZ-like polypeptide, or a reduced amount of nucleic acid encoding said polypeptide. A method for generating a non-human animal which develops PKD comprising reducing the amount of functional TAZ polypeptide and/or TAZ-like polypeptide, or nucleic acid encoding said polypeptide. A method of screening for compounds of use in preventing or treating PKD wherein a non-human animal is administered with a test compound and the effect of the test compound on the amount or function of TAZ polypeptide and/or a TAZ-like polypeptide and/or a polypeptide regulated by TAZ or a TAZ-like polypeptide function, or the amount of nucleic acid encoding said polypeptide, is assessed.
1. A mouse whose gene encoding transcriptional coactivator with PDZ-binding motif (TAZ) is inactivated through homologous recombination such that the mouse is TAZ −/− and develops polycystic kidney disease (PKD).
2. The mouse of claim 1 , wherein the homologous recombination is localized to the kidney.
3. The mouse of claim 1 , wherein the mouse has no functional TAZ polypeptide or no nucleic acid encoding said polypeptide.