A stop-EGFP transgenic mouse to detect clonal cell lineages generated by mutation.
The investigation of cell lineages and clonal organization in tissues is facilitated by techniques that allow labelling of clonal cell lineages. Here, we describe a novel transgenic mouse that allows clonal cell lineages to be traced in virtually any tissue. A green fluorescent cell lineage is generated by a random mutation at an enhanced green fluorescent protein gene that carries a premature stop codon, ensuring clonality. The transgenic system allows efficient detection of mutations and stem-cell fate mapping in the epidermis using live mice, as well as in the kidney and liver post-mortem. Cell lineages that descended from single epidermal stem cells were found to be capable of generating three adjacent corneocytes using the system, providing evidence for horizontal migration of epidermal cells between epidermal proliferative units (EPUs), in contrast to the classical EPU model. The transgenic mouse system is expected to provide a novel tool for stem-cell lineage studies.
Ro
Simon
S
Department of Medical Genetics, 839 Medical Sciences Building, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T6G 2H7. simon.ro@ualberta.ca
Rannala
Bruce
B
D000818:Animals; D004817:Epidermis / Q000378:metabolism*; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D017930:Genes, Reporter; D007211:Indoles; D007668:Kidney / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D008099:Liver / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D009154:Mutation; D041681:NIH 3T3 Cells; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000378:metabolism*
D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D007211:Indoles; C007293:DAPI