title: Dorsal telencephalon-specific expression of Cre recombinase in PAC transgenic mice.
abstract: The ability to restrict gene expression or disruption to specific regions of the brain would enhance understanding of the molecular basis for brain development and function. For this purpose, brain region-restricted promoters are essential. Here we report the isolation of a DNA fragment containing the Emx1 gene promoter, which is responsible for dorsal telencephalon-specific expression. The Cre recombinase gene was inserted into a mouse PAC (P1-derived artificial chromosome) Emx1-locus clone (PAC-Emx1#1 clone) and utilized to generate three transgenic mouse lines. In all three lines, especially Tg3, Cre-mediated recombination was highly restricted to Emx1-expressing cell lineages, from embryonic stages to adulthood. Immunohistochemical analyses showed that Cre protein is expressed in the dorsal telencephalon in all three lines in adulthood. Thus, the PAC-Emx1#1 clone contains essentially all regulatory elements necessary for Emx1 gene expression. Our results suggest that Emx1-Cre Tg3 mice and the PAC-Emx1#1 clone constitute powerful tools for dorsal telencephalon-specific gene manipulation.
authors.affiliation: PRESTO, Japan Science and Technology Agency, Saitama, Japan. iwasato@brain.riken.jp
authors.forename: Takuji
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Iwasato
authors.forename: Ryochi
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Nomura
authors.forename: Reiko
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ando
authors.forename: Toshio
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ikeda
authors.forename: Mika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tanaka
authors.forename: Shigeyoshi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Itohara
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D027042:Chromosomes, Artificial, P1 Bacteriophage / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / Q000235:genetics; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D019426:Integrases / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D007763:Lac Operon; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008822:Mice, Transgenic / Q000196:embryology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D011995:Recombination, Genetic; D013687:Telencephalon / Q000502:physiology*; D014157:Transcription Factors; D000099260:Empty Spiracles Homeobox Proteins
chemical_list: D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D019426:Integrases; D014157:Transcription Factors; D000099260:Empty Spiracles Homeobox Proteins; C045073:Cre recombinase