B6.Cg-Tg(Vil1-cre)997Gum/J

Stock number: 004586
Product name: Villin-cre
Strain synonyms: 12.4KbVilCre line 997
Research areas: Cancer Research, Research Tools

Description

These Vil1-cre mice express Cre recombinase in villus and crypt epithelial cells of the small and large intestines and may be useful in studies of intestinal organogenesis. In contrast to Villin-cre transgenic mice from founder line 1000 (Stock No. 021504) that are reported be absent of Cre recombinase activity in gonads, these Villin-cre transgenic mice from founder line 997 are reported to have a very low level (<1%) of cells with Cre recombinase activity in the testes.

Detailed description

Villin-cre transgenic mice have the mouse villin 1 promoter directing expression of Cre recombinase to villus and crypt epithelial cells of the small and large intestines, in a pattern that closely resembles endogenous Vil1 expression. When crossed with a strain containing a loxP site-flanked sequence of interest, Cre-mediated recombination results in tissue-specific deletion of the target. The donating investigator indicates that expression is generally continuous, but that a small amount of mosaicism is noted in the colon. Onset of transgene expression is at 12.5 dpc, which is delayed from the endogenous mouse Vil1 gene expression onset of 9.0 dpc.

Villin-cre transgenic mice from founder line 997 (Stock No. 004586) are reported to have a very low level (<1%) of cells with Cre recombinase activity in the testes. This is in contrast to Villin-cre transgenic mice from founder line 1000 (Stock No. 021504) that are reported be absent of Cre recombinase activity in gonads.

Villin-cre transgenic mice from founder line 997 (also called Vil1-Cre 997, Vil-Cre 997, Villin-Cre 997, 12.4KbVilCre 997 or VCre997) are viable, fertile, normal in size and do not display any gross physical or behavioral abnormalities as hemizygotes. The phenotype of homozygous Vil1-Cre 997 mice is not reported.

Development

The 12.4KbVilCre transgene was designed by Dr. Blair Madison (University of Michigan) to have the 12.4 kb fragment of the mouse villin 1 gene, the Cre recombinase coding domain and the entire metallothionein sequence and polyadenylation site. This transgene was injected into the pronuclei of fertilized C57BL/6J x SJL/J mouse eggs. Several founder animals were bred to C57BL/6 mice for germline transmission, and founder line 997 (also called Vil1-Cre 997, Vil-Cre 997, Villin-Cre 997, 12.4KbVilCre 997 or VCre997) was established. In founder line 997, the transgene integrated into chromosome 17, approximately 119 kb upstream of St6gal2; a 14.6 kb deletion was identified at the integration site. The donating investigator reports that Vil1-Cre 997 mice were subsequently backcrossed to C57BL/6 mice for five generations. Upon arrival at The Jackson Laboratory, the mice were crossed to C57BL/6J (Stock No. 000664) at least once to establish the colony.

Allele

Symbol: Tg(Vil1-cre)997Gum
Name: transgene insertion 997, Deborah L Gumucio
MGI accession ID: MGI:2448639
Generation method: Transgenic
Attributes: Recombinase-expressing
Marker symbol: Tg(Vil1-cre)997Gum
Marker name: transgene insertion 997, Deborah L Gumucio
Chromosome: 17
Strain of origin: (C57BL/6J x SJL)F1
Expressed genes: cre,cre recombinase,bacteriophage P1
Site of expression: epithelial cells of the small and large intestines; onset of expression is at 12.5 d.p.c.; expression is generally continuous, but a small amount of mosaicism is noted in the colon
Molecular note: A 12.4-kb promoter fragment from the villin 1 gene drives the expression of cre recombinase cDNA with the entire metallothionein sequence and a poly(A) signal. Recombination occurs in villi and crypt cells of the small and large intestines, closely patterning the endogenous gene expression. Seven lines were generated. According to the corresponding author (J:78815), expression is generally continuous but a small amount of mosaicism is noted in the colon. Onset of transgene expression is at 12.5 dpc, which is delayed from the endogenous mouse Vil gene expression onset of 9.0 dpc. Line 997 contains 16 copies of the transgene inserted in chromosome 17 about 119 kb upstream of St6gal2 (chr17:55,466,255; NCBI37/mm9) with a 14.6 kb deletion at the integration site.
General note: Hemizygous transgenic mice are viable, fertile, normal in size, and do not display any gross physical or behavioral abnormalities.