title: Generation and characterization of iUBC-KikGR photoconvertible transgenic mice for live time-lapse imaging during development.
abstract: A transgenic mouse line named iUBC-KikGR was generated, which expresses the photoconvertible fluorescent protein Kikume Green-Red (KikGR) under the control of the human Ubiquitin C promoter. KikGR is natively a green fluorophore, which can be converted into a red fluorophore upon exposure to UV light. KikGR is expressed broadly throughout transgenic embryos from the two-cell stage onward and in the adult. Specificity of photoconversion can range from the entire embryo to a region of an organ, to a few individual cells, depending on the needs of the experimenter. Cell movements, tissue reorganization, and migration can then be observed in real time by culturing the tissue of interest as an explant on the microscope stage. The iUBC-KikGR transgenic line represents a singular genetic reagent, which can be used for fate mapping, lineage tracing, and live visualization of cell behaviors and tissue movements in multiple organs at multiple time points.
authors.affiliation: Program in Developmental Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA.
authors.forename: Shannon L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Griswold
authors.forename: Krishna C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Sajja
authors.forename: Chuan-Wei
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Jang
authors.forename: Richard R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Behringer
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D047108:Embryonic Development / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D015971:Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic; D023061:Gene Order; D018390:Gene Targeting; D005822:Genetic Vectors / Q000235:genetics; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008164:Luminescent Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D057054:Molecular Imaging; D009924:Organ Culture Techniques; D038081:Organogenesis / Q000502:physiology; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D059008:Time-Lapse Imaging; D025822:Ubiquitin C / Q000235:genetics*; D000097573:Red Fluorescent Protein
chemical_list: D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins; D008164:Luminescent Proteins; D025822:Ubiquitin C; D000097573:Red Fluorescent Protein