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Characterization of astrocyte‐specific conditional knockouts
Author(s) -
Casper Kristen B.,
Jones Kristin,
McCarthy Ken D.
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
genesis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.093
H-Index - 110
eISSN - 1526-968X
pISSN - 1526-954X
DOI - 10.1002/dvg.20287
Subject(s) - cre recombinase , gene knockout , biology , transgene , conditional gene knockout , reporter gene , gene , recombinase , astrocyte , genetics , gene targeting , locus (genetics) , population , microbiology and biotechnology , genetically modified mouse , gene expression , recombination , phenotype , neuroscience , demography , sociology , central nervous system
Conditional gene knockouts are a very powerful tool for elucidating gene function in animal physiology and behavior. To obtain cell‐specific knockouts, a promoter is utilized that drives expression of Cre recombinase specifically to the cell population of interest. We describe several transgenic lines of mice that were created in an attempt to obtain astrocyte‐specific gene recombination. A 2 kb fragment from the human glial fibrillary acidic protein promoter is utilized to drive expression of inducible Cre recombinase, with both the Tet‐Off and tamoxifen responsive systems. We show data obtained from crosses with two Cre reporter lines, ROSA26R and an astrocyte Cre reporter created in our laboratory, to assess the cell specificity of gene recombination. Additionally, our system is shown to successfully recombine a floxed Connexin43 locus, although recombination is not as extensive as seen in crosses with reporter lines. genesis 45:292–299, 2007. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.