JAX® Mice and Services News

In this issue:

• Enhanced Information on Mouse Models of Human Diseases
• Discovery Strategies Conference
• New Strain Characteristic Documented for Inbred Strain A/HeJ
• New JAX® Mice

Enhanced Information on Mouse Models of Human Diseases

Mouse Genome Informatics (MGI) is pleased to announce the release of a new version of its database. Version 3.3 improves your ability to explore phenotypes, sequence, expression, orthology and other related data by integrating data from MGI on mouse genes and strains with data from Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man (OMIM) on mouse models of human disease and human disease etiology.

Read more about the enhancements to the MGI database.

Discovery Strategies Conference 2006

Cancer is a leading cause of death in the United States, second only to heart disease. Challenges in developing effective therapeutic approaches to fight cancer are present at virtually every stage of the drug development pipeline, from target identification to preclinical testing for safety and efficacy. One of the biggest hurdles remains the reliable modeling of human cancer in vitro and in vivo and is underscored by a notable lack of concordance between systems. This conference will focus not only on how mouse genetic models may be applied to the study of cancer, but also how they may be used to find new drug targets, and evaluate the mechanism of action, efficacy and safety of new cancer drugs. The meeting will also discuss the role of stem cells in cancer and the problems they represent for treating cancer.

Read more about this conference at our web site.

New Strain Characteristic Documented for Inbred Strain A/HeJ

In 1993, an A/HeJ (Stock No. 000645) inbred mouse with abnormal external genitalia was obtained from The Jackson Laboratory Production Colonies. Further inspection of nonproductive A/HeJ male mice indicates that 4% are hermaphrodites characterized by mixed female and male external genitalia and ovaries and/or ovotestes.

Read press release about this new characteristic at our web site.

New JAX® Mice

To obtain additional information about the new mouse models below, please click on the "Stock No." links, which will take you to the strain data sheets.

• B6.FVBTg(ITGAMDTR/EGFP)34Lan/J (Stock No. 006000) These transgenic mice have a diphtheria toxin (DT) inducible system that transiently depletes macrophages. Homozygotes look and behave normally . 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 (CD11b). Intraperitoneal injection of DT ablates monocyte/macrophage cells (but not polymorphonuclear cells) in the peritoneal cavity, kidney, and ovaries within 12 hours. Macrophage populations are restored four days later. This strain may be useful for researching the specific role of macrophages in the immune response.
  
  
• B6.129-Ski^tm1Cco /J (Stock No. 005709) Homozygotes for this targeted mutation of the Sloan-Kettering viral oncogene homolog (Ski) gene die before or shortly after birth from developmental problems. At embryonic day 8.5 (E8.5), they are indistinguishable from wild-type and heterozygous littermates with delayed, but complete, cranial neural tube closure (incomplete at the normal E9.5). Ninety percent of those alive at E18.5 have facial clefting, Other highly penetrant phenotypes include flattened snout, depressed nasal bridge, excessive orbital separation, elongated subventricular zones, vestigial polydactyly, and malformed olfactory bulbs, irises, and ventral septa. Heterozygotes are viable and fertile with timely cranial neural tube closure and a low incidence of facial clefting. This mouse may be useful for researching facial cleft formation, 1p36 deletion syndrome, oncogene function, apoptosis, and neural tube and skeletal muscle defects.
  
  
  
• C57BL/6J-mt ^A/J /NaJ (Stock No. 005545) This mitochondrial substitution or conplastic strain has the C57BL/6J mitochondrial DNA replaced by that of the A/J strain. The two strains differ in their susceptibility to diseases such as arthritis, asthma, atherosclerosis, cancer, several infectious diseases, inflammatory responses, and physiological, behavioral and sensory phenotypes. Using this strain may accelerate identifying and mapping quantitative trait loci (QTLs) associated with these diseases.
  
  
• A/J-ChrY^C57BL/6J /NaJ (Stock No. 005546) This chromosome substitution or consomic strain has the Y chromosome of the A/J strain replaced by the Y Chromosome of the C57BL/6J strain.
  
  
• C57BL/6J-ChrY ^129S1/SvImJ /NaJ (Stock No. 005547) This chromosome substitution or consomic strain has the Y chromosome of the C57BL/6J strain replaced by the Y Chromosome of the 129S1/SvImJ strain.
  
  
• 129S1/SvImJ-ChrY^C57BL/6J /NaJ (Stock No.005548) This chromosome substitution or consomic strain has the Y chromosome of the 129S1/SvImJ strain replaced by the Y Chromosome of the C57BL/6J strain.
  
  
• B6.129S-Galr1^tm1Tpi /J (Stock No. 005695) Mice homozygous for this knock-out of the galanin receptor 1 (Galr1) gene are viable, fertile, normal-sized, and look normal. The donating investigator indicates that they do not exhibit seizure behavior sometimes seen in incipient congenic mice with a mutation of the same gene. They can be used to research receptor defects and various other neurobiological phenotypes.
  
  
• D1Lac.Cg-Tg(Tcra,Tcrb)24Efro/J (Stock No. 005694) These transgenics for a fully functional bovine and mouse type II collagen (260-267) specific IA^q-restricted T cell receptor are viable, fertile, and normal-sized. The transgene confers severe accelerated autoimmune arthritis following type II collagen (CII) immunization. The splenocytes from tolerized mutants have altered activation and memory cell surface markers and secrete higher levels of Th2 cytokines than do controls. Estradiol completely prevents collagen-induced arthritis (CIA). This mutant may be useful for researching CIA, rheumatoid arthritis, T regulatory cells, and may also serve as a source of T cells that mediate the development of autoimmune diseases.
  
  
• B6.129S1-Card15^tm1Flv /J (Stock No. 005763) Homozygotes for this targeted mutation of the caspase recruitment domain family, member 15 (Card15) gene are viable, fertile, have normal lymphoid and myeloid cellularity, and have no intestinal inflammation up to six months of age. They lack the protective immunity normally afforded by endogenous protein recognition of the Card15 ligand, bacterial muramyl dipeptide (MDP). They have diminished cryptdins and are abnormally susceptible to intragastric bacterial challenge. They may be useful for researching Crohn’s disease, other inflammatory bowel diseases, innate immunity, signal transduction, and bacterial susceptibility.