STOCK Mapt^tm1(EGFP)Klt/J

Stock number: 004779
Product name: Tau KO
Research areas: Neurobiology Research, Research Tools

Description

A congenic C57BL/6J background version of this strain is available as Stock No. 029219.

Enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) is detected throughout the developing central nervous system and persists to adult, closely following the expression of neuron specific beta-tubulin III. The expression of cytoplasmic EGFP in the central nervous system of this mutant allows for non-invasive visualization of elongating nerve axons.

Detailed description

Mice that are homozygous for the transgenic insert are viable, fertile, normal in size and do not display any gross physical or behavioral abnormalities. A knock-in of the EGFP coding sequence into the first exon disrupts expression of the Mapt gene and produces a cytoplasmic EGFP fused to the first 31 amino acids. No gene product (isoform proteins) is detected in whole brain lysates by Western blot analysis. EGFP signal is detected beginning at 9.0 days post coitum in the trigeminal ganglion and by 10.75 days post coitum fluorescent signal is detected throughout the developing central nervous system. EGFP expression persists to adult and closely patterns the expression of neuron specific beta-tubulin III, as detected by the TuJ1 antibody. The expression of cytoplasmic EGFP in the central nervous system of this mutant allows for non-invasive visualization of elongating nerve axons.

Development

A targeting vector containing a neomycin resistance gene driven by the mouse phosphoglycerate kinase promoter and a EGFP (Clonetech) cDNA was inserted into exon 1. The construct was electroporated into 129S4/SvJae-derived J1 embryonic stem (ES) cells. Correctly targeted ES cells were injected into C57BL/6 blastocysts. The resulting chimeric male animals were crossed to C57BL/6 mice. Heterozygotes were intercrossed to generate homozygotes. The mice were then crossed to a transgenic strain that was generated in embryos derived from a cross between Swiss Webster females and B6D2F1 males. This transgenic allele was subsequently removed from the strain during the development of our production stocks through selective breeding. These mice carry only the Mapt^tm1(EGFP)Klt allele.

Allele

Symbol: Mapt^tm1(EGFP)Klt
Name: targeted mutation 1, Kerry Lee Tucker
MGI accession ID: MGI:2670768
Generation method: Targeted
Attributes: Reporter; Null/Knockout
Marker symbol: Mapt
Marker name: microtubule-associated protein tau
Chromosome: 11
Strain of origin: 129S4/SvJae
Expressed genes: GFP,Green Fluorescent Protein,
Site of expression: GFP signal is detected beginning a embryonic day 9 in the trigeminal ganglion and throughout the developing central nervous system by embryonic day 10.75. GFP expression persists in adults and closely resembles the expression of neuron specific beta-tubulin III.
Molecular note: Exon 1 was disrupted by the insertion of a cassette encoding the EGFP fluorescent marker gene and a neomycin resistance gene. Fusion protein including EGFP was detected by Western blot analysis of homozygous mutant brain lysates. Fluorescent illumination indicated that expression of the reporter gene was similar to that of the endogenous gene.