Newly Available JAX® GEMM® Strains

JAX® NOTES Issue 505, Spring 2007

We are pleased to announce that The Jackson Laboratory is now distributing the following JAX® GEMM® (Genetically Engineered and Mutant Mice) 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.

B6.Cg-Tg(Il1rn)1Dih/J
004753

These transgenic mice overexpress the secreted mouse interleukin 1 receptor antagonist (Il1rnI) gene under the control of endogenous regulatory elements. The transgene contains a point mutation (G to A) in exon 3. The mice have an estimated 8 copies of the transgene in tandem array. Northern blot analysis of liver tissue following lipopolysaccharide (LPS) endotoxin challenge detects overexpression. RT-PCR analysis of corneal tissue detects higher levels of gene product (mRNA) than wild-type controls. The donating investigator reports that whereas hemizygotes are viable and fertile, homozygotes are sickly and die prematurely. Transgenic mice are less susceptible to LPS challenge but more susceptible to experimental Listeria monocytogenes infection than are wild-type controls. Following endotoxin (LPS) challenge, serum IL-1 levels are higher. Hemizygotes exhibit an intermediate susceptibility. Severity of stromal keratitis caused by herpes simplex virus (HSV) ocular infection is diminished. Mice with HSV ocular infection display reduced angiogenesis in the cornea, reduced polymorphonuclear leukocyte infiltration, decreased levels of macrophage-inflammatory protein 2 (MIP-2), IL-6, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR-2) levels, and delayed viral clearance. This strain may be used to research inflammation and cytokine regulation.

STOCK Tg(ACTB-mRFP1)1F1Hadj/J
005645

This strain is transgenic for the monomeric red fluorescent protein-1 (mRFP1) coding sequence controlled by the chicken beta actin (ACTB) promoter and CMV immediate early enhancer combination, designed to drive high-level constitutive gene expression in mouse ES cells, embryos, and adults. Unlike the expression of tetrameric or dimeric fluorescent proteins, high levels of mRFP1 expression do not affect cell morphology, developmental potential, viability, and fertility of homozygous mice. Various optical imaging modalities can be used to visualize mRFP1-expressing cells in cultures, embryos, and adults. Cells from transgenic mRFP1 mice, sampled along with green and cyan fluorescent cells from other mice, show clearly discernable fluorescence. This mouse may be useful in studies of mRFP1 cell lines, transplantation, embryo chimera experiments, and fluorescent imaging and technology development.

STOCK Ppidtm1.1Mmos/J
005740

Homozygotes for this targeted mutation of the peptidylprolyl isomerase D (cyclophilin D) (Ppid) gene are viable, fertile, and look and behave normally. No gene product (protein) is detectable by immunoblot analysis of mitochondria isolated from liver tissue. Mice of this strain have normal brain architecture and cerebrovasculature. Their mitochondria have an increased capacity to retain calcium and fail to swell/rupture in response to CaCl2, suggesting that their permeability transition pores (PTPs) function abnormally. Mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) derived from this strain are less susceptible to oxidative stress induced by exposure to hydrogen peroxide than are MEFs derived from wild-type mice. In a model of ischemic brain injury using a middle cerebral artery occlusion protocol, mice from this strain exhibit a reduced infarct volume (37% in heterozygotes, and 62% in homozygotes) when compared to wild-type mice. This strain may be used to research oxidative stress- and ischemia-induced cell death.

FVB/N-Tg(Thy1-cre)1Vln/J
006143

Hemizygotes for this cre recombinase gene under control of the mouse thymus cell antigen 1 (Thy1) gene promoter are viable, fertile, and look and behave normally. Cre activity occurs in nearly all neurons in the cortex and hippocampus. When bred with any mouse containing a loxP-flanked sequence of interest, these mice produce offspring in which Cre-mediated recombination deletes the flanked genome in these neurons. This strain may be used to research the nervous system, including AlzheimerÕs disease.

FVB.Cg-Tg(SMN2)89Ahmb Tg(SMN1*A2G)2023Ahmb Smn1tm1Msd/J
005026

Mice homozygous for this targeted mutation of the survival motor neuron 1 (Smn1) gene, homozygous for the SMN2 transgene, and hemizygous for the SMN1*A2G transgene exhibit symptoms and neuropathology similar to those in patients with type III (mild) proximal spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). Hemizygotes for the SMN2 transgene are 20-40% smaller than are unaffected mice. When 3 weeks old, they become less active than controls and show signs of muscle weakness. They live less than a year, near the end of which they exhibit reduced movement, diminished grooming, shallow breathing, and considerable weight loss. Immunohistochemical analysis of spinal cord tissue from 1-month old mutants indicates the presence of cytoplasmic SMN protein and intranuclear aggregates (gems) of the SMN protein. Fewer intranuclear aggregates are found than in age-matched control tissues. Histological analysis of gastrocnemius, quadriceps, and intercostals muscles reveals numerous angulated and atrophic fibers. This trait is more pronounced in the gastrocnemius muscle tissue. Respectively, the lumbar spinal cord and facial tissues derived from 3.5-month olds have 29% and 19% fewer motor neurons than do the same tissues in controls. Normal numbers of motor neurons are found in 5-day old mice, indicating that motor neuron loss in SMA is a late event. Electromyograph (EMG) recordings from 4- to 6-month olds clearly indicate denervation. Associated compensatory axon sprouting is observed. Triple mutants homozygous for the SMN1 A2G transgene have a much milder phenotype, live longer, and breed well. Hemizygotes can be bred, but are less efficient.

FVB.Cg-Tg(tetO-cre)1Jaw/J
006224

These transgenic mice express Cre recombinase under the control of a tetracycline-responsive promoter element (TRE or tetO). Hemizygotes are viable, fertile, and look and behave normally. When bred with another transgenic mouse expressing reverse tetracycline-controlled transactivator protein (rtTA) or tetracycline-controlled transactivator protein (tTA), they produce bitransgenic mice in which Cre recombinase expression and Cre mediated recombination can be regulated with the tetracycline analog, doxycycline. This strain can be used to generate inducible tissue-specific targeted mutants for studying cell lineage during development.

B6.Cg-Tg(BAT-lacZ)3Picc/J
005317

This "BAT-GAL" transgenic reporter strain expresses Beta-galactosidase in the presence of activated Beta-catenin. The transgene contains the lacZ gene under the control of a regulatory sequence consisting of seven consensus LEF/TCF-binding motifs upstream of the Xenopus siamois gene minimal promoter. Homozygotes are viable, fertile, and look and behave normally. They display Beta-galactosidase activity in the posterior side of the proximal epiblast beginning at embryonic day 6.0. Transgene expression is detectable in the posterior primitive streak and node at the gastrulation stage and progresses to the paraxial mesoderm and notochord. Beta-galactosidase activity in developing and adult nervous tissue mimics the pattern of Wnt signaling. This strain may be used to generate mutants for researching the Wnt signaling pathway in development and disease.

FVB.Cg-Tg(Scgb1a1-rtTA)1Jaw/J
006222

These transgenic mice express the reverse tetracycline-controlled transactivator (rtTA) protein under the control of the rat secretoglobin, family 1A, member 1 (uteroglobin) (Scgb1a1) gene promoter. Hemizygotes are viable, fertile, and look and behave normally. By using in situ hybridization, rtTA gene product (mRNA) is detectable in bronchial and type II epithelial cells of lung tissue from adult transgenic mice treated with doxycycline for 7 days. When the pregnant female is treated with doxycycline, induction of transgene expression is detected as early as postconception day 14. When mated to a second transgenic strain carrying a gene of interest under the regulatory control of a tetracycline-responsive promoter element (tetO), they produce offspring in which expression of the target gene may be regulated by the tetracycline analog, doxycycline (dox); in the presence of doxycycline, transcription of the target gene is induced in cells where rtTA is expressed. This strain is a Tet-On tool that allows the inducible expression of genes in the developing and adult lung and respiratory epithelium

B6.Cg-Shhtm1(EGFP/cre)Cjt/J
005622

This strain expresses a fusion product involving enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) and Cre recombinase from the endogenous sonic hedgehog (Shh) locus. EGFP and Cre expression are consistent with the endogenous gene. Fluorescence is detected in the distal posterior region of the limb buds from embryonic day 10 to 12 and colocalizes with the endogenous gene product (mRNA). Homozygotes are neither viable nor fertile, develop a limited limb skeleton, and lack digit 2. In contrast, heterozygotes are viable, fertile, and look and behave normally. This strain may be used to study limb patterning and development.

C57BL/6NJ
005304

This strain is an NIH subline of C57BL/6. It was separated from C57BL/6J in 1951. Five SNP differences distinguish C57BL/6J from C57BL/6ByJ and C57BL/6NJ. Both C57BL/6ByJ and C57BL/6NJ type as follows: 08-015199792-M is C; 11-004367508-M is A; 13-041017317-M is C; 15-057561875-M is G; 19-049914266-M is T. C57BL/6J types as follows: 08-015199792-M is T; 11-004367508-M is G; 13-041017317-M is T; 15-057561875-M is A; 19-049914266-M is G.