Human smooth muscle alpha-actin promoter drives Cre recombinase expression in the cranial suture in addition to smooth muscle cell.
Tissue-specific gene deletion by the Cre-loxp system is a powerful tool to investigate the roles of specific genes. To determine the specificity and efficiency of the Cre-mediated recombination under the control of the human smooth muscle alpha-actin promoter, we mated SMalphaA-Cre mice and R26R reporter mice. Cre-mediated recombination was observed in visceral and vascular smooth muscle cells. Partial recombination was also found in heart and musculoskeletal connective tissues. Highly efficient recombination was found in cranial sutures. Hence, we propose that SMalphaA-Cre mice are good tool for conditionally deleting gene function in the cranial suture in addition to smooth muscle cells.
Maruyama
Takamitsu
T
Department of Molecular Biology, Graduate School of Agriculture, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan.
Hatakeyama
Shinya
S
Miwa
Takeshi
T
Nishimori
Katsuhiko
K
D000199:Actins / Q000235:genetics*; D000818:Animals; D003393:Cranial Sutures / Q000378:metabolism*; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D017353:Gene Deletion; D006801:Humans; D019426:Integrases / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D051379:Mice; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism; D009130:Muscle, Smooth / Q000378:metabolism*; D009206:Myocardium / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism; D011247:Pregnancy; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic / Q000235:genetics*
D000199:Actins; C045073:Cre recombinase; D019426:Integrases