title: An ES cell system for rapid, spatial and temporal analysis of gene function in vitro and in vivo.
abstract: We describe a versatile genetic system for rapid analysis of mammalian gene function. In this, loss of reporter activity in a novel embryonic stem (ES) cell line enables rapid identification of targeting to the ubiquitously expressed Rosa26 locus. Subsequent regulation of gene activity is governed by a dual regulatory strategy utilizing two drugs, Tamoxifen and Doxycycline. To illustrate this approach, a dominant allele of Smoothened was introduced into this cell line, enabling regulated activation of Hedgehog signaling. By coupling Cre-loxP dependent activation with tetracycline dependent transcription in a single allele, we established a conditional method to control Smoothened activity and neural progenitor specification in differentiating ES cells in vitro and in chimeric embryos in vivo When crossed to an appropriate Cre driver strain, gene activity can also be temporally regulated within a specific cell lineage. This platform will facilitate rapid analysis of gene function in the mouse.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard University, 16 Divinity Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA.
authors.forename: Junhao
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mao
authors.forename: Jeffery
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Barrow
authors.forename: Jill
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: McMahon
authors.forename: Joe
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Vaughan
authors.forename: Andrew P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: McMahon
mesh_terms: D000483:Alleles; D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002460:Cell Line; D019070:Cell Lineage; D002678:Chimera; D004318:Doxycycline / Q000494:pharmacology; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian / Q000166:cytology*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D053823:Hedgehog Proteins; D019426:Integrases / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice / Q000196:embryology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology; D011506:Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D022661:RNA, Untranslated; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled / Q000235:genetics; D015398:Signal Transduction; D000072086:Smoothened Receptor; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D013629:Tamoxifen / Q000494:pharmacology; D013997:Time Factors; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000378:metabolism; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: C110853:Gt(ROSA)26Sor non-coding RNA, mouse; D053823:Hedgehog Proteins; D011506:Proteins; D022661:RNA, Untranslated; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled; C465570:Shh protein, mouse; C491022:Smo protein, mouse; D000072086:Smoothened Receptor; D015534:Trans-Activators; D014764:Viral Proteins; D013629:Tamoxifen; C045073:Cre recombinase; D019426:Integrases; D004318:Doxycycline