Z/AP, a double reporter for cre-mediated recombination.
The Cre/loxP site-specific recombination system combined with embryonic stem cell-mediated technologies has greatly expanded our capability to address normal and disease development in mammals using genetic approaches. The success of this emerging technology hinges on the production of Cre-expressing transgenic lines that provide cell type-, tissue-, or developmental stage-specific recombination between loxP sites placed in the genome. Here we describe and characterize the production of a double-reporter mouse line that provides a convenient and reliable readout of Cre recombinase activity. Throughout all embryonic and adult stages, the transgenic animal expresses the lacZ reporter gene before Cre-mediated excision occurs. Cre excision, however, removes the lacZ gene, allowing expression of the second reporter, the human alkaline phosphatase gene. This double-reporter transgenic line is able to indicate the occurrence of Cre excision in an extremely widespread manner from early embryonic to adult lineages. It will be a valuable reagent for the increasing number of investigators taking advantage of the powerful tools provided by the Cre/loxP site-specific recombinase system.
Lobe
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CG
Cancer Research Division, Sunnybrook Health Science Centre, 2075 Bayview Avenue, Toronto, Ontario, M4N 3M5, Canada.
Koop
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KE
Kreppner
W
W
Lomeli
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H
Gertsenstein
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M
Nagy
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A
D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase / Q000235:genetics; D000818:Animals; D002449:Cell Aggregation; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian / Q000166:cytology; D015870:Gene Expression; D017930:Genes, Reporter; D005822:Genetic Vectors; D005838:Genotype; D006651:Histocytochemistry; D019426:Integrases / Q000378:metabolism*; D007763:Lac Operon; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D011003:Ploidies; D011995:Recombination, Genetic; D017384:Sequence Deletion; D013234:Stem Cells; D014018:Tissue Distribution; D019076:Transgenes; D014764:Viral Proteins
D014764:Viral Proteins; C045073:Cre recombinase; D019426:Integrases; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase