title: Embryonic expression of an Nkx2-5/Cre gene using ROSA26 reporter mice.
abstract: Nkx2-5, one of the earliest cardiac-specific markers in vertebrate embryos, was used as a genetic locus to knock in the Cre recombinase gene by homologous recombination. Offspring resulting from heterozygous Nkx2-5/Cre mice mated to ROSA26 (R26R) reporter mice provided a model system for following Nkx2-5 gene activity by beta-galactosidase (beta-gal) activity. beta-gal activity was initially observed in the early cardiac crescent, cardiomyocytes of the looping heart tube, and in the epithelium of the first pharyngeal arch. In later stage embryos (10.5-13.5 days postcoitum, dpc), beta-gal activity was observed in the stomach and spleen, the dorsum of the tongue, and in the condensing primordium of the tooth. The Nkx2-5/Cre mouse model should provide a useful genetic resource to elucidate the role of loxP manipulated genetic targets in cardiogenesis and other developmental processes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
authors.forename: K A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Moses
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: DeMayo
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Braun
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Reecy
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Schwartz
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D017930:Genes, Reporter; D005822:Genetic Vectors; D006321:Heart / Q000196:embryology; D000072576:Homeobox Protein Nkx-2.5; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D019426:Integrases / Q000235:genetics; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D008957:Models, Genetic; D009206:Myocardium / Q000378:metabolism; D011506:Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D022661:RNA, Untranslated; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D014157:Transcription Factors; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D029867:Xenopus Proteins; D001616:beta-Galactosidase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: C110853:Gt(ROSA)26Sor non-coding RNA, mouse; D000072576:Homeobox Protein Nkx-2.5; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; C095552:NKX2-5 protein, human; C484469:Nkx2-5 protein, mouse; D011506:Proteins; D022661:RNA, Untranslated; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors; D014764:Viral Proteins; D029867:Xenopus Proteins; C045073:Cre recombinase; D019426:Integrases; D001616:beta-Galactosidase