Temporally and spatially regulated somatic mutagenesis in mice.
In mice transgenesis through oocyte injection or DNA recombination in embryonal stem (ES) cells allows mutations to be introduced into the germline. However, the earliest phenotype of the introduced mutation can eclipse later effects. We show in mice that site-specific genomic recombination can be induced in a selected cell type, B lymphocytes, at a chosen time. This precision of somatic mutagenesis was accomplished by limiting expression of a Cre recombinase-estrogen receptor fusion protein to B lymphocytes by use of tissue-specific elements in the promoter of the transgene employed. The expressed fusion protein remained inactive until derepressed by systemic administration of an exogenous ligand for the estrogen receptor, 4-OH-tamoxifen. Upon derepression the Cre recombinase enzyme deleted specific DNA segments, flanked by loxP sites, in B lymphocytes only. The efficiency of recombination in cells expressing the fusion protein could be varied from low levels to >80%, depending on the dose of ligand administered. Our work presents a paradigm applicable to other uses of site-specific recombination in somatic mutagenesis where both temporal and spatial regulation are desired.
Schwenk
F
F
Institute for Genetics, University of Cologne, Weyertal 121, 50931 Cologne, Germany.
Kuhn
R
R
Angrand
P O
PO
Rajewsky
K
K
Stewart
A F
AF
D000818:Animals; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D002460:Cell Line; D005260:Female; D017353:Gene Deletion; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects; D019426:Integrases / Q000235:genetics; D008024:Ligands; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008808:Mice, Inbred CBA; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D016296:Mutagenesis; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000819:agonists / Q000235:genetics; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D011995:Recombination, Genetic; D013629:Tamoxifen / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D014764:Viral Proteins
D008024:Ligands; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D014764:Viral Proteins; D013629:Tamoxifen; C016601:afimoxifene; C045073:Cre recombinase; D019426:Integrases