KF-1 was originally identified as a protein encoded by human gene with increased expression in the cerebral cortex of a patient with Alzheimer’s disease. To elucidate the role of kf-1 in the central nervous system, we generated kf-1 knockout mice. The resulting kf-1-/- mice were normal and healthy in appearance but behavioral analysis in the light/dark transition and elevated plus maze tests revealed that kf-1-/- mice showed significantly increased anxiety-like behavior compared with  kf-1+/+ littermates.  No significant differences were observed in exploratory locomotion using the open field test or in behavioral despair using the forced swim and tail suspension tests.  The kf-1-/-mice provide a novel animal model for elucidating molecular mechanisms of psychiatric diseases such as anxiety/depression, and may be useful for screening novel anxiolytic/antidepressant compounds.

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