title: Generation of conditional knockout alleles for PDGF-C.
abstract: PDGF-C is a newly identified member of the platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) family, which is involved in multiple cellular functions by signaling through PDGF receptor (PDGFR)-alphaalpha and alphabeta dimers. PDGF-C deficiency is perinatal lethal due to the formation of cleft palate. To further characterize the cellular function of PDGF-C during both embryonic and postnatal development, we have generated two conditional alleles of the Pdgf-c gene in which two loxP sites flank exon 5. Global Cre-mediated excision of the floxed exon 5 in these alleles resulted in a complete loss of PDGF-C expression and caused embryonic defects identical to those previously described for the PDGF-C null embryos. These conditional alleles will therefore be the important genetic tools for dissecting the spatial and temporal roles of PDGF-C during development and in adult tissues. Furthermore, from this work, we have also described a simple approach for creating mouse conditional alleles in an efficient manner.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Medical Genetics, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
authors.forename: Xiaoli
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Hao
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ding
mesh_terms: D000483:Alleles; D000818:Animals; D002972:Cleft Palate / Q000196:embryology; D003433:Crosses, Genetic; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian; D005091:Exons; D017353:Gene Deletion; D018390:Gene Targeting; D005818:Genetic Engineering; D005822:Genetic Vectors; D006579:Heterozygote; D019426:Integrases; D008222:Lymphokines / Q000172:deficiency / Q000235:genetics*; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D010982:Platelet-Derived Growth Factor / Q000172:deficiency / Q000235:genetics*; D011995:Recombination, Genetic; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D019076:Transgenes
chemical_list: D008222:Lymphokines; D010982:Platelet-Derived Growth Factor; C411423:platelet-derived growth factor C; C045073:Cre recombinase; D019426:Integrases