title: Cre-mediated recombination in the skin melanocyte lineage.
abstract: Organ-specific expression of a Cre recombinase allows the analysis of gene function in a particular tissue or cell type. Using a 6.1 kb promoter from the mouse tyrosinase gene, we generated and characterized two lines of transgenic mice that express Cre recombinase in melanoblasts. Utilizing a Cre-responsive reporter mouse strain, genetic recombination was detected in the melanoblasts of the skin from embryonic day 11.5. In addition, Cre-expression was detected in the skin and eyes of mice. Cre transgene activity was occasionally detected in the brain and peripheral nerves but not in other tissues. When Tyr::Cre mice were crossed with mice carrying a homozygous loxP conditional mutation for the insulin-like growth factor receptor gene (Igf1r), Cre-melanoblast-specific recombination pattern was confirmed and no abnormal phenotype was observed. In conclusion, Tyr::Cre transgenic mice provide a valuable tool to follow the cell lineage and to examine gene function in melanocyte development and transformation.
authors.forename: Véronique
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Delmas
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Martinozzi
authors.forename: Yveline
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Bourgeois
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Holzenberger
authors.forename: Lionel
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Larue
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D017931:DNA Primers; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D008544:Melanocytes / Q000201:enzymology*; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D045522:Recombinases / Q000502:physiology*; D011995:Recombination, Genetic; D012867:Skin / Q000166:cytology / Q000201:enzymology*; D019076:Transgenes
chemical_list: D017931:DNA Primers; D045522:Recombinases