title: An inactivating caspase 11 passenger mutation originating from the 129 murine strain in mice targeted for c-IAP1.
abstract: A recent study revealed that ES (embryonic stem) cell lines derived from the 129 murine strain carry an inactivating mutation within the caspase 11 gene (Casp4) locus [Kayagaki, Warming, Lamkanfi, Vande Walle, Louie, Dong, Newton, Qu, Liu, Heldens, Zhang, Lee, Roose-Girma and Dixit (2011) Nature 479, 117-121]. Thus, if 129 ES cells are used to target genes closely linked to caspase 11, the resulting mice might also carry the caspase 11 deficiency as a passenger mutation. In the present study, we examined the genetic loci of mice targeted for the closely linked c-IAP (cellular inhibitor of apoptosis) genes, which were generated in 129 ES cells, and found that, despite extensive backcrossing into a C57BL/6 background, c-IAP1(-/-) animals are also deficient in caspase 11. Consequently, data obtained from these mice should be re-evaluated in this new context.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA.
authors.forename: Niall S
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Kenneth
authors.forename: J Michael
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Younger
authors.forename: Elizabeth D
authors.initials: ED
authors.lastname: Hughes
authors.forename: Danielle
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Marcotte
authors.forename: Philip A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Barker
authors.forename: Thomas L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Saunders
authors.forename: Colin S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Duckett
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D020169:Caspases / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D053471:Caspases, Initiator; D002460:Cell Line; D004789:Enzyme Activation; D051034:Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins / Q000172:deficiency / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D057507:Mice, 129 Strain; D009154:Mutation
chemical_list: D051034:Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins; C101136:Casp4 protein, mouse; D020169:Caspases; D053471:Caspases, Initiator