Conditional gene targeting on the pure C57BL/6 genetic background.
Brain functions are the products of dynamic interactions between multiple genes and environments. Accordingly, there are large differences among mouse strains at the behavioral and neurobiological levels. Therefore, it is crucial to manipulate genes on the same and homogenous genetic background and then to analyze and compare the phenotypes of various genetically modified mice. Furthermore, a conditional gene targeting to restrict the gene knockout to specific cells and time is a powerful tool to investigate the molecular basis of higher brain functions such as learning and memory. We have developed a system employing Cre-progesterone receptor fusion recombinase for temporal regulation of gene targeting and Flp/frt recombination system for elimination of marker genes. Importantly, both the recombinase lines and target mice have been produced with embryonic stem cells derived from the C57BL/6 strain suitable for brain function analysis. Thus, we have established an inducible and neuron-specific gene targeting system on the pure C57BL/6 genetic background.
Mishina
Masayoshi
M
Department of Molecular Neurobiology and Pharmacology, Graduate School of Medicine, University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan. mishina@m.u-tokyo.ac.jp
Sakimura
Kenji
K
D000818:Animals; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian; D053595:Embryonic Stem Cells / Q000502:physiology; D018390:Gene Targeting; D019426:Integrases; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL / Q000196:embryology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D008954:Models, Biological; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D011995:Recombination, Genetic
D011980:Receptors, Progesterone; C045073:Cre recombinase; D019426:Integrases