Cre recombinase specificity defined by the tau locus.
We generated a transgenic mouse line (tau::Cre) by targeting the Cre to the tau locus (Mapt). Based on previous reports on the expression of Tau during development, we expected the Cre recombinase to be expressed in a neuron-specific and pan-neuronal manner. However, intercrosses between the tau::Cre and the Cre-activatable reporter animals resulted in offspring with recombination either restricted to the nervous system or throughout the entire conceptus, indicating expression of Tau early in development. The percentage of neuron-specific excision was dependent on the Cre reporter used representing different Cre target sites in the mouse genome. In spite of the observed variability, our data suggest that the tau::Cre mouse line can be used for pan-neuronal recombination of floxed alleles when it is used with caution.
Korets-Smith
Ella
E
Samuel Lunenfeld Research Institute, 600 University Ave., Toronto, Ontario, M5G 1X5, Canada.
Lindemann
Lothar
L
Tucker
Kerry Lee
KL
Jiang
Caoyang
C
Kabacs
Nikolett
N
Belteki
Gusztav
G
Haigh
Jody
J
Gertsenstein
Marina
M
Nagy
Andras
A
D000818:Animals; D003433:Crosses, Genetic; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D018390:Gene Targeting; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D019426:Integrases / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism*; D009928:Organ Specificity; D011995:Recombination, Genetic; D016875:tau Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism
C485184:enhanced green fluorescent protein; D016875:tau Proteins; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins; C045073:Cre recombinase; D019426:Integrases