The estrogen receptor fusion system in mouse models: a reversible switch.
Reversible regulatory mouse models have significantly contributed to our understanding of normal tissue and cancer biology, providing the opportunity to temporally control initiation, progression, and evolution of physiological and pathological events. The tamoxifen inducible system, one of the best-characterized "reversible switch" models, has a number of beneficial features. In this system, the hormone-binding domain of the mammalian estrogen receptor is used as a heterologous regulatory domain. Upon ligand binding, the receptor is released from its inhibitory complex and the fusion protein becomes functional. We summarize the advantages and drawbacks of the system, describe several mouse models that rely on it, and discuss potential improvements that could render it even more useful and versatile.
Vall d'Hebron Institute of Oncology (VHIO), Barcelona 08035, Spain; Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Bellaterra (Cerdanyola del Vallès), Spain;
Jonathan
J
Whitfield
Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1GA, United Kingdom.
Trevor
T
Littlewood
Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1GA, United Kingdom.
Gerard I
GI
Evan
Vall d'Hebron Institute of Oncology (VHIO), Barcelona 08035, Spain; Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Bellaterra (Cerdanyola del Vallès), Spain;
Laura
L
Soucek
D000818:Animals; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D051379:Mice; D023421:Models, Animal; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D013629:Tamoxifen / Q000378:metabolism
D011960:Receptors, Estrogen; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D013629:Tamoxifen