Temporally controlled site-specific mutagenesis in the germ cell lineage of the mouse testis.
We have obtained a PrP-Cre-ER(T) transgenic mouse line (28.8) that selectively expresses in testis the tamoxifen-inducible Cre-ER(T) recombinase under the control of a mouse Prion protein (PrP) promoter-containing genomic fragment. Cre-ER(T) is expressed in spermatogonia and spermatocytes, but not in Sertoli and Leydig cells. We also established reporter PrP-L-EGFP-L transgenic mice harboring a LoxP-flanked enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) Cre reporter cassette under the control of the same PrP promoter-containing genomic fragment that exhibits prominent EGFP expression in brain and testis. Using the PrP-L-EGFP-L as well as other Cre-reporter mice, we demonstrate that tamoxifen administration efficiently and selectively induces Cre-mediated recombination in the germ cell lineage. The established PrP-Cre-ER(T) line should provide a valuable tool for studying functions of germ cell-expressed genes involved in spermatogenesis.
Weber
Philipp
P
Institut de Génétique et de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, Université Louis Pasteur, Collège de France, B P 163, 67404 Illkirch-Cedex, Communauté Urbaine de Strasbourg, France.
Schuler
Michael
M
Gérard
Christelle
C
Mark
Manuel
M
Metzger
Daniel
D
Chambon
Pierre
P
D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism; D019070:Cell Lineage; D004965:Estrogen Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017930:Genes, Reporter; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins; D019426:Integrases / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D008164:Luminescent Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D016297:Mutagenesis, Site-Directed; D009154:Mutation; D011257:Pregnancy Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary / Q000235:genetics; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D011995:Recombination, Genetic / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000502:physiology*; D013629:Tamoxifen / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013737:Testis / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D013997:Time Factors; D014018:Tissue Distribution; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism
D004965:Estrogen Antagonists; D008164:Luminescent Proteins; C057074:Plfr protein, mouse; D011257:Pregnancy Proteins; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D014764:Viral Proteins; D013629:Tamoxifen; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins; C045073:Cre recombinase; D019426:Integrases