CRISPR/Cas9 technology generated a 744 bp deletion encompassing exon 2 and 3, resulting in a frameshift and theoretically should produce a 52-amino acid mutant protein, however nonsense-mediated mRNA decay should be triggered and result in degradation of the mRNA and thus loss of function. Western blot analysis confirmed absence of protein in various tissues including spleen, lung, liver, kidney, testis and ovary.