Newly Available JAX® Mice Strains
JAX® NOTES Issue 506, Summer 2007
We are pleased to be distributing the following new JAX® 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.
B6.129S7-Efnb2tm1And/J
Stock No. 006039
Homozygotes for this targeted mutation of the ephrin B2 (Efnb2) gene are growth retarded, have an enlarged heart at embryonic day 10 (E10), and all die by around E11. Reporter protein expression patterns are consistent with arterial (but not venous) expression of the endogenous gene. As early as E8.25, the hindbrain and somites emit a prominent lacZ signal; the aorta and heart emit lower signals. Expression in the yolk sac, nephrogenic mesoderm, and branchial arches is detectable at E8.5. Angiogenic remodeling at the capillary plexus stage in the yolk sac and head, as well as endothelial vessel support cell differentiation of the yolk sac, are defective. Myocardial trabecular extensions and capillary ingrowth into the neural tube are absent. Developmental abnormalities closely resemble those of B6;129S7-Ephb4tm1And/J mice (006044), which have a lacZ-expressing null mutation of the ephrin B2 receptor. Heterozygotes are viable, fertile, behave normally, and have identical lacZ expression patterns. This strain may be used to research the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying vasculogenesis and angiogenesis, the topography of neovascularization, and adult neovascularization, including tumor angiogenesis.
FVB.Cg-Tg(SFTPC-rtTA)5Jaw/J
Stock No. 006225
This transgenic strain expresses the reverse tetracycline-controlled transactivator (rtTA) protein under the control of the human surfactant, pulmonary-associated protein C (SFTPC) promoter. Hemizygotes are viable, fertile, and look and behave normally. In situ hybridization detects rtTA gene product (mRNA) in lung peripheral epithelial cells from adult mice and in 15-day old (and as young as 12.5-day old) embryos from doxycycline-treated dams. When mated to a second transgenic strain carrying a gene of interest under the regulatory control of a tetracycline-responsive promoter element (tetO), this strain produces offspring in which expression of the target gene may be regulated by doxycycline (transcription of the target gene is induced in cells where rtTA is expressed). The donating investigator reports that homozygotes are not viable. This strain is a Tet-On tool that allows the inducible expression of genes in the developing and adult lung and respiratory epithelium.
FVB/N-Tg(tetO-BCR/ABL1)2Dgt/J
Stock No. 006202
This transgenic strain expresses the human leukemogenic p210 BCR-ABL1 fusion protein under the direction of the tetracycline-responsive element (TRE or tetO) when a tetracycline-transactivator (tTA) protein is introduced. This allows for inducible, conditional and/or tissue-specific expression of the protein. Hemizygotes are viable, fertile, and look and behave normally. The strain was originally designed to be bred with a transgenic strain harboring a Tal1-tTA transgene (FVB.Cg-Tg(Tal1-tTA)19Dgt/J, 006209) to produce a double transgenic serving as a model for the Philadelphia chromosome and inducible chronic myeloid leukemia.
When bred to a strain expressing tTA in the epithelial cells of secretory organs and skin (B6.Cg-Tg(MMTVtTa)1Mam/J, 002618), this strain may be used to research leukemia.
B6.129X1-Mpotm1Lus/J
Stock No. 004265
Homozygotes for this targeted mutation of the myeloperoxidase (Mpo) gene are viable, fertile, and look and behave normally. No Mpo gene product (mRNA or protein) is detected. Total white blood cell counts and differentials are similar to those in wild-type mice. Neutrophils and monocytes in peripheral blood and bone marrow have no endogenous peroxidase activity. Superoxide production levels in peritoneal exudate cells are similar to levels found in wild-type mice. Hypochlorous acid production is undetectable in both isolated leukocytes and peritoneal exudate cells. Due to myeloperoxidase deficiency, mutants display impaired fungicidal activity. When maintained under hyperlipidemic conditions, mutants develop atherosclerotic lesions 50% larger than those in control mice.
B6.129S1-Casp3tm1Flv/J
Stock No. 006233
Homozygotes for this targeted mutation of the caspase 3 (Casp3) gene are viable, fertile, and reach adulthood, but females are reportedly suboptimal mothers. Active endogenous protein and mRNA are absent from all tissues tested. Homozygotes are resistant to in vivo cerebral ischemia/reperfusion and to in vitro oxygen-glucose depravation. Ovaries from female homozygotes have aberrant atretic follicles associated with defects in the apoptosis of granulosa cells and the regression of corpus lutea. Homozygotes are congenitally deaf and have hair cell defects in the Organ of Corti. The optic lens forms abnormally and develops cataracts at the anterior lens pole. This strain lacks the embryonic/perinatal-lethal brain pathology found in 129 or mixed B6;129 strains with the same mutation. This strain may be used to research apoptosis, ovarian follicle and corpus luteum development, and eye and ear development.
C57BL/6J-Tg(ACTB-NOTCH1)1Shn/J
Stock No. 006481
These transgenic mice, called "CALSL-NICD (H)" mice (or CALSL-NICD mice), are viable, fertile and behave normally. They reportedly have a single insertion locus with 10-20 copies of the human NOTCH1 transgene. Expression of the intracellular domain of the transgene is prevented by a "Lox-STOP-Lox" cassette. If the strain is bred to a Cre-expressing strain, the "floxed stop" region in the offspring is excised, and the transgene is expressed in the offspring's cre-expressing tissues. This strain may be used to research the development and apoptosis of early neural progenitor cells and, broadly, tissue-specific Notch activation. For example, when crossed to a strain expressing Cre recombinase in the nervous system, such as strain B6.Cg-Tg(Nes-cre)1Kln/J (003771), this strain may be used to research notch signaling in apoptotic cell death.
FVB.129S6-Gt(ROSA)26Sortm1(HIF1A/luc)Kael/J
Stock No. 006206
This strain has the C-terminal portion of the hypoxia-inducible factor 1 alpha (HIF1A) oxygen-dependent degradation domain (ODD) fused to the firefly luciferase (luc) gene. Heterozygotes are viable, fertile, and look and behave normally. The ODD region also contains a proline residue (amino acid 564), which, when hydroxylated, binds to the von Hippel-Lindau tumor suppressor protein (pVHL). Under normal oxygen concentrations, prolyl hydroxylation by egg-laying-defective nine (EGLN) proteins leads to pVHL-dependent polyubiquitylation and proteasomal degradation, resulting in little or no luciferase fluorescence. Under hypoxia, proline hydroxylation is impaired and ubiquitination is attenuated, resulting in stabilization of the fusion protein and high levels of luciferase fluorescence in the hypoxic tissue(s). This bioluminescent reporter strain may be used to research transcriptional regulation of hypoxia-inducible genes, cancer, ischemia, myocardial infarction, stroke, pharmacokinetics, or other phenomena where imaging and reporting the development of tissue hypoxia and the action of small molecule inhibitors of HIF prolyl hydroxylase activity are appropriate.
B6.Cg-Tg(Il2/NFAT-luc)83Rinc/J
Stock No. 006098
This transgenic strain expresses the luciferase gene driven by multiple binding sites for nuclear factor of activated T-cells (NFAT), an inducible nuclear factor involved in the regulation of interleukin 2 and other cytokine expression. Luciferase activity in this strain identifies NFAT-mediated transcription. Hemizygotes are viable, fertile, and look and behave normally. Homozygous females are subfertile. This strain may be used to research immunology, cellular signaling, signal transduction, apoptosis, and transcription factors.
