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Generation of novel conditional and hypomorphic alleles of the Smad2 gene
Author(s) -
Liu Ye,
Festing Maria H.,
Hester Mark,
Thompson John C.,
Weinstein Michael
Publication year - 2004
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/gene.20072
Subject(s) - allele , null allele , biology , genetics , gene , cre recombinase , mutation , transgene , genetically modified mouse
Smad2 is an intracellular mediator of the transforming growth factor beta signaling (TGFβ) pathway. It has been previously shown that, in the mouse, ablation of functional Smad2 results in embryonic lethality due to gastrulation defects. To circumvent the early lethality and study the spatially and temporally specific functions of Smad2, we utilized the Cre‐ loxP system to generate a Smad2 conditional allele. Here we show that a conditional allele, Smad2 flox , was generated. In this allele, exons 9 and 10 are flanked by loxP sites and the gene is functionally wildtype. Cre‐mediated recombination results in a deletion allele which phenocopies our previously reported Smad2 Δ C null mutation. To generate this conditional allele, we first made a targeted mutation which introduced a floxed neo cassette into intron 10. This allele ( Smad2 3loxP ) functions hypomorphically when placed opposite a null allele, and unlike the other published Smad2 hypomorphic allele, can be maintained in the homozygous state. genesis 40:118–123, 2004. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.