Cre recombinase-mediated gene deletion in layer 4 of murine sensory cortical areas.
Thalamocortical input to layer 4 carries the major ascending sensory information to the mammalian sensory cortex and is crucial for the function and plasticity of sensory cortical areas. Here we report identification of a Six3-cre transgene that is selectively expressed in layer 4 of sensory cortical areas but not in the thalamus. In the mature somatosensory cortex Cre recombinase expressed from the transgene is able to mediate gene deletion in the overwhelming majority of layer 4 neurons, including GABAergic interneurons. The gene deletion in layer 4 mainly occurs during the first postnatal week. This cre transgene therefore provides a useful tool for examining the role of proteins expressed in layer 4 neurons.
Liao
Guey-Ying
GY
Department of Pharmacology, Georgetown University School of Medicine, Washington, DC 20057, USA.
Xu
Baoji
B
D000818:Animals; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology; D005136:Eye Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D017353:Gene Deletion; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D019426:Integrases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D007395:Interneurons / Q000502:physiology; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology; D013003:Somatosensory Cortex / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology*; D019076:Transgenes; D000097607:Homeobox Protein SIX3
D005136:Eye Proteins; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D019426:Integrases; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D000097607:Homeobox Protein SIX3; C045073:Cre recombinase