B6.Cg-Tg(DRE-lacZ)2Gswz/J

Stock number: 006229
Product name: DRE-lacZ
Research areas: Cancer Research, Cell Biology Research, Developmental Biology Research, Research Tools

Description

In these transgenic mice lacZ expression is induced in tissues targeted by toxic compounds such as TCDD.

Detailed description

Hemizygous mice are viable, fertile, normal in size, and do not display any behavioral abnormalities. Following adult or in utero exposure with xenobiotic ligands (including 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)), lacZ expression is induced in tissues targeted by the toxic compounds; for example, embryonic tissues expressing beta-galactosidase following TCDD treatment in utero include hard and soft palates, genital tubercle, certain facial regions, shoulder, and other tissues). These mice may be useful in studies of toxicology, teratogenic and xenobiotic processes, Per-Arnt-Sim transcription factors, cleft-palate, and as a reporter strain to indicate the temporal and spatial context of transcriptionally active aryl hydrocarbon receptors following agonist exposure in vivo.

Development

A transgene was constructed with two dioxin-responsive elements (DRE) and chicken ovalbumin TATA box upstream of a beta-galactosidase (lacZ) gene, all followed by an SV40 intron plus polyadenylation signal. The construct was microinjected into (C57Bl/6 x SJL)F2 fertilized eggs and then implanted into pseudopregnant foster mothers. Founder line DNXT-B (noted numerically as 2 in the strain name) was obtained and bred to C57BL/6 mice for more than 10 generations prior to arrival at The Jackson Laboratory.

Allele

Symbol: Tg(DRE-lacZ)2Gswz
Name: transgene insertion 2, Thomas A Gasiewicz
MGI accession ID: MGI:3629068
Generation method: Transgenic
Attributes: Reporter
Marker symbol: Tg(DRE-lacZ)2Gswz
Marker name: transgene insertion 2, Thomas A Gasiewicz
Chromosome: UN
Strain of origin: Not Applicable
Expressed genes: lacZ,beta-galactosidase,E. coli
Site of expression: Following adult or in utero exposure with xenobiotic ligands (including TCDD and PCBs), lacZ expression is induced in tissues targeted by the toxic compounds.
Molecular note: The transgene comprises two dioxin-responsive elements (DRE) and the minimal TATA box of the chicken ovalbumin gene upstream of the bacterial lacZ gene, which is followed by an SV40 intron and polyadenylation signal. In the absence of induction by an aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) agonist, weak beta-galactosidase activity is observed only in the embryonic genital tubercle at gestational day E13.
General note: Of transgenic lines derived from 7 founder mice that transmitted the transgene, only the present line - designated line B by the authors - exhibited significant hepatic beta-galactosidase induction by TCDD (~20-fold greater than in vehicle-treated mice).

Following exposure of the adult or fetal transgenic mouse to xenobiotic ligands, including 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) and polychlorinated byphenyls (PCBs), lacZ expression is induced in multiple target tissues. Mice bearing this transgene may be useful for investigations of toxicology, teratogenic and xenobiotic processes, Per-Arnt-Sim transcription factors, and the temporal and spatial context of transcriptionally active aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) following agonist exposure in vivo.