Integrins mediate cell-cell and cell-extracellular matrix interactions and play key roles in development. beta(6) integrin expression has been demonstrated in human fetal kidney at a higher level than in the adult, making beta(6) integrin a marker of interest for the study of development of the nephron. The aims of this study were to determine the cDNA sequence for the mouse beta(6) integrin and to characterize beta(6) integrin expression in the developing mouse kidney. Two embryonic mouse kidney cDNA libraries were screened, and the coding region was sequenced. The mouse beta(6) nucleotide coding region sequence shows 82% nucleotide identity to the human sequence. The putative amino acid sequence has 89.5% identity to human beta(6) integrin and contains many conserved domains. By reverse transcription-PCR, beta(6) integrin mRNA expression is very low at 11 d of gestation in the mouse, increases dramatically by E14 and E17 (20-fold, normalized for increases in ss actin), and plateaus by 2 wk of age. beta(6) integrin expression is induced 15- to 20-fold after 5 d in metanephric explant culture. Reverse transcription-PCR of adult rat microdissected nephron segments demonstrates ss(6) integrin mRNA expression in proximal tubule, cortical thick ascending limb, distal nephron segments (inner and outer medullary collecting ducts), and macula densa-containing segments. Lectin-peroxidase and in situ colocalization studies demonstrated expression of ss(6) integrin mRNA in developing proximal tubules and thick ascending limb. Culture of mouse metanephric kidneys with antisense oligonucleotides to beta(6) integrin resulted in inhibition of ureteric bud branching and complete lack of mesenchyme condensation. These studies demonstrate a high homology between the human and mouse beta(6) integrin sequence, a different pattern of expression in the developing mouse kidney compared with the primate kidney, and abnormal metanephric development in culture in the absence of beta(6) integrin. These findings suggest an important role for beta(6) integrin in normal development of the mouse kidney.