Inducible site-specific recombination in myelinating cells.
To explore the function of genes expressed by myelinating cells we have developed a model system that allows for the inducible ablation of predetermined genes in oligodendrocytes and Schwann cells. The Cre/loxP recombination system provides the opportunity to generate tissue-specific somatic mutations in mice. We have used a fusion protein between the Cre recombinase and a mutated ligand-binding domain of the human estrogen receptor (CreER(T)) to obtain inducible, site-specific recombination. CreER(T) expression was placed under the transcriptional control of the regulatory sequences of the myelin proteolipid protein (PLP) gene, which is abundantly expressed in oligodendrocytes and to a lesser extent in Schwann cells. The CreER(T) fusion protein translocated to the nucleus and mediated the recombination of a LacZ reporter transgene in myelinating cells of PLP/CreER(T) mice injected with the synthetic steroid tamoxifen. In untreated animals CreER(T) remained cytoplasmic, and there was no evidence of recombination. The PLP/ CreER(T) animals should be very useful in elucidating and distinguishing a particular gene's function in the formation and maintenance of the myelin sheath and in analyzing mature oligodendrocyte function in pathological conditions.
Doerflinger
Nathalie H
NH
Institut de Génétique et de Biologie Moleculaire et Cellulaire (IGBMC), CNRS, Université Louis Pasteur, Illkirch, France.
Macklin
Wendy B
WB
Popko
Brian
B
D000818:Animals; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D017930:Genes, Reporter; D006801:Humans; D019426:Integrases / Q000235:genetics; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D009836:Oligodendroglia / Q000502:physiology*; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000235:genetics*; D011995:Recombination, Genetic; D012583:Schwann Cells / Q000502:physiology*; D019076:Transgenes; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000235:genetics
D011960:Receptors, Estrogen; D014764:Viral Proteins; C045073:Cre recombinase; D019426:Integrases