Newly Available JAX® GEMM® Strains
JAX® NOTES Issue 502, Summer 2006
We are pleased to announce that we are now distributing the following JAX® GEMM® strains.
For ordering information, please contact Customer Service by e-mail at orderquest@jax.org or call 800.422.MICE (6423) or 207.288.5845. Please see our Web site for more detailed strain data sheets.
B6.Cg-Tg(Camk2a-cre)T29-1Stl/J(005359)
These transgenic mice express Cre recombinase under the control of the mouse calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II alpha (Camk2a) promoter. Homozygotes for this Camk2a-cre transgene are viable, fertile, and look and behave normally. Cre recombinase is expressed in the forebrain, specifically in the CA1 pyramidal cell layer of the hippocampus. When this strain is crossed with a strain containing a sequence of interest flanked by loxP sites, Cre-mediated recombination occurs in the pyramidal cell layer.
B6129-Tg(Myh6-cre/Esr1)1Jmk/J
(005650)
These transgenics express a cre recombinase/mutant estrogen receptor ligand binding (Esr1) domain double-fusion protein under the control of a mouse cardiac-specific alpha-myosin heavy chain (Myh6) promoter. The double fusion protein has substantially greater Cre recombinase activity with less promiscuity than does a single CreMer fusion protein. Homozygotes are viable, fertile, and look and behave normally. The transgene is expressed in juvenile and adult hearts (confirmed by Western blot), but the protein is inactive until induced with tamoxifen. Echocardiograms, heart mass and pathology, and expression of hypertrophy marker genes are comparable to those of non-transgenic littermates. Inducible expression of Cre in cardiac cells makes this strain suitable for constructing bitransgenic mice for studying temporally regulated deletion of loxP-flanked genes.
B6.129P-Cx3cr1tm1Litt/J
(005582)
Homozygotes for this targeted mutation of the chemokine (C-X3-C) receptor 1 (Cx3cr1) gene are viable, fertile, and look and behave normally. Their lymphoid tissue produces mutant (but not wild-type) mRNA (detected by RT-PCR). Their peripheral blood cells contain a subset of green fluorescent cells not found in wild-type mice (observed by flow cytometry). Their monocytes, dendritic cells, NK cells, and brain microglia express green fluorescent protein (GFP) but not the endogenous gene. The same subset of peripheral blood cells express detectable levels of GFP in heterozygotes. The spleen and peripheral nerve tissue of homozygotes do not express GFP (determined from immunohistochemical analysis). This strain may be useful for researching leukocyte migration and trafficking.
FVB.Cg-Tg(MMTV-vHaras)SH1Led/J
(004363)
These transgenics express the human Harvey RAS gene under the direction of the mouse mammary tumor virus promoter. The transgene is expressed mostly in the mammary tissue and salivary glands. Males and females develop malignant lymphoid tissue and mammary and salivary gland tumors as early as five weeks of age. Half of the females develop tumors by 6 months of age. Most of the mammary tumors are locally invasive adenocarcinomas with some metastasis to the liver and/or lung. The tumors express the transgene transcript. Protein-tyrosine phosphatase epsilon mRNA and protein are highly expressed only in mammary tumors. In 20% of the transgenic mice, diffuse benign hyperplasia develops in the Harderian lacrimal gland, causing bilateral exophthalmia. The donating investigator reported that hemizygous females develop tumors by the time they deliver their first litter (i.e. tumorigenesis is accelerated by pregnancy), and that hemizygous males develop large salivary gland tumors in the neck and eye opacity by 5 to 6 months of age. Reportedly, hemizygous males have low sperm counts and high incidences of sperm abnormalities, resulting in low fertility. This strain may be useful for researching mammary carcinoma.
STOCK Tg(Tek-rtTA,TRE-lacZ)1425Tpr/J
(005493)
These mice harbor two co-injected transgenic constructs. The first is reverse tetracycline-controlled transactivator (rtTA) protein and is expressed under the direction of the endothelial-specific receptor tyrosine kinase enhancer/promoter (Tek). The second expresses a nuclear-localizing beta-galactosidase (lacZ) gene and is under the control of a tetracycline-responsive element (TRE). Hemizygotes for these transgenes are viable, fertile, and look and behave normally. In the presence of tetracycline or a tetracycline analog (such as doxycycline), selective expression of beta-galactosidase occurs in the nuclei of vascular endothelium in a wide variety of tissues (aorta, heart, brain, lung, kidney, liver, spleen, uterus, prostate, stomach, skeletal muscle, large and small intestine). Expression occurs as early as embryonic day 9.5. In the absence of tetracycline, some beta-galactosidase expression occurs in the smaller branches of the aorta. Additionally, the donating investigators report that less beta-galactosidase is expressed when the alleles are transferred onto a C57BL/6 background. This strain allows the inducible expression of genes in the vascular endothelium during early development and adulthood.
B6;C3H-Tg(Scgb1a1-Scnn1b)6608Bouc/J
(005315)
These transgenic mice overexpress the mouse sodium channel, nonvoltage-gated 1 beta (Scnn1b) gene under the direction of the rat secretoglobin, family 1A, member 1 (uteroglobin) (Scgb1a1) promoter. About 40 to 60% of hemizygotes may die from airway obstruction asphyxia between birth and 4 weeks of age. Mucus accumulation, plaques and plugs in airways occur postnatally. Basal and amiloride-sensitive short-circuit currents in tracheal tissue are increased. Airway surface liquid (ASL) volume, mucus transport and clearance are reduced. The mutants have characteristics of cystic fibrosis lung disease, including chronic bronchitis, airway inflammation, airway lumen infiltration of macrophage and neutrophils, and goblet cell metaplasia. This strain may be useful for researching cystic fibrosis.
FVG-Tg(ITGAM-DTR/EGFP)34Lan/J
(005515)
These transgenics have a diphtheria toxin (DT) inducible system that transiently depletes macrophages. The transgene contains a fusion product involving simian diphtheria toxin receptor and green fluorescent protein under the control of the human ITGAM (integrin alpha M) promoter (CD112b). RT-PCR analysis of bone marrow macrophages from these mice detects specific transgene expression. Cytological analysis of thioglycollate-treated peritoneal cells from these mice shows the absence of macrophages. Intraperitoneal injection of DT ablates monocyte/macrophage cells in the peritoneal cavity. Mice that are homozygous for the transgene are viable, and look and behave normally. Transgene expression is not sufficient to be detected by FACS analysis. Twelve hours after DT administration, all macrophages are ablated in the peritoneum, kidney, and ovary. Macrophage populations are restored by day 4 following a single intraperitoneal dose of DT. Administration of DT does not affect polymorphonuclear cells. Higher doses (greater than 25ng/g body weight) of DT sickens the mice. This strain may be useful for researching the role of macrophages in the immune response.
STOCK Tsc1tm1Djk/J
(005680)
Homozygotes for this targeted mutation of the tuberous sclerosis 1 (Tsc1) gene are viable, fertile, normal-sized, look and behave normally, express normal amounts of hamartin (the targeted gene's protein product), and have no tumors through age 18 months. They carry a "floxed" allele of the endogenous gene. When they are mated with a mutant carrying a cre recombinase gene under the control of a promoter of interest, exons 17 and 18 of the Tsc1 gene are deleted in the tissues of interest in their offspring. This mutant may be useful in many tissue-specific studies including tuberous sclerosis or other hamartoma syndromes, regulation of the actin cytoskeleton and motility, cellular and organismal glucose homeostasis, cell growth responses, apoptosis regulation, and regulation of cell size.
C.129S4(B6)-C5ar1tm1Cge/J
(005676)
Homozygotes for this targeted mutation of the complement component 5a receptor 1 (C5ar1) gene are viable, fertile, normal-sized, and look and behave normally when maintained in barrier conditions. Their bone marrow produces no detectable gene product. The immune response of homozygotes on a C57BL/6 background has been characterized in several studies. Following intratracheal inoculation, they have impaired bacterial clearance in the lungs, associated with extensive secondary infection, despite increased neutrophil accumulation. Conversely, they are protected against immune-complex-associated injury in the lungs, peritoneum, skin, and kidneys, but not against experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis. Induced acute pancreatitis and pancreatitis-associated lung injury is more severe than it is in wild-type controls. Homozygotes on a BALB/c background are more resistant to dermal infection than are wild-type controls, and their lymph node cells have a much higher antigen recall than do those of wild-type controls (as measured by interferon gamma secretion). Homozygotes on an unspecified background fail to develop airway hyper-reactivity in hapten asthma models. This mutant can be used to study many lung-associated diseases, immune complex-associated injury, and complement innate immunity.
B6.Cg-Tg(Thy1-EYFP)15Jrs/J
(005630)
These transgenics conditionally express Enhanced Yellow Fluorescent Protein (EYFP) under the direction of the mouse thymus cell antigen 1 (Thy1), theta, promoter. The expression of the EYFP gene is blocked by a loxP-flanked STOP fragment placed between the promoter and the EYFP gene. Cre-mediated excision of the STOP cassette results in expression of EYFP in motor neurons. Hemizygotes are viable, fertile, normal-sized, and look and behave normally. They may be useful for researching axonal outgrowth, injury, and regeneration.
C.Cg-Gata1tm6Sho/J
(005653)
Homozygous females and hemizygous males for this targeted mutation of the GATA binding protein 1 (Gata1) gene are viable, fertile, and normal-sized. The mutation completely ablates the eosinophil lineage (even under conditions that normally stimulate eosinophil development) without affecting the development of other GATA-1 dependent lineages (erythroid, megakaryocytic, and mast cells). The endogenous gene is expressed in erythroid and bone marrow cells. This mutant may be used to research eosinophil function and eosinophil-related pathologies (including asthma and pulmonary physiology) in vivo.
