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Cre‐mediated site‐specific recombination in zebrafish embryos
Author(s) -
Thummel Ryan,
Burket Christopher T.,
Brewer Jeffrey L.,
Sarras Michael P.,
Li Li,
Perry Martin,
McDermott Jeffrey P.,
Sauer Brian,
Hyde David R.,
Godwin Alan R.
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
developmental dynamics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.634
H-Index - 141
eISSN - 1097-0177
pISSN - 1058-8388
DOI - 10.1002/dvdy.20475
Subject(s) - biology , transgene , zebrafish , green fluorescent protein , microbiology and biotechnology , gene , fusion protein , genetics , site specific recombination , heat shock protein , transgenesis , fusion gene , plasmid , recombinant dna , recombination , embryogenesis , recombinase , reproductive biology
Cre‐mediated site‐specific recombination has become an invaluable tool for manipulation of the murine genome. The ability to conditionally activate gene expression or to generate chromosomal alterations with this same tool would greatly enhance zebrafish genetics. This study demonstrates that the HSP70 promoter can be used to inducibly control expression of an enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) –Cre fusion protein. The EGFP–Cre fusion protein is capable of promoting recombination between lox sites in injected plasmids or in stably inherited transgenes as early as 2 hr post–heat shock induction. Finally, the levels of Cre expression achieved in a transgenic fish line carrying the HSP70‐ EGFP – cre transgene are compatible with viability and both male and female transgenic fish are fertile subsequent to induction of EGFP–Cre expression. Hence, our data suggests that Cre‐mediated recombination is a viable means of manipulating gene expression in zebrafish. Developmental Dynamics 233:1366–1377, 2005. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.