B6.129P2-Mecp2^tm1Bird/J

Stock number: 007177
Product name: Mecp2^lox
Research areas: Mouse/Human Gene Homologs, Neurobiology Research, Research Tools

Description

Mice with this X-linked floxed mutation of the methyl CpG binding protein 2 gene may be useful in neurological and developmental studies of Rett syndrome.

Detailed description

These mice possess two functional loxP sites flanking exons 3-4 of the targeted gene on the X chromosome (the donating investigator reports that the middle loxP site is non-functional). Homozygous females and hemizygous males are viable and fertile. Northern blot analysis showed the expected mature transcript from the Mecp2^lox locus as well as a transcript in which the beta-globin intron was unspliced. When these mutant mice are bred to mice that express Cre recombinase, resulting offspring will have exons 3-4 deleted in the cre-expressing tissue(s). Mice with this X-linked floxed mutation may be useful in neurological and developmental studies of Rett syndrome.

For example, when crossed to a strain expressing Cre recombinase in nervous tissue (see Stock No. 003771), this mutant mouse strain develops a neurological phenotype that mimics Rett syndrome.

When crossed to a strain expressing Cre recombinase in GABAergic neurons (see Stock No. 017535), these mice exhibit behaviors common to those seen in Rett Syndrome and Autism Spectrum Disorders.

In an attempt to offer alleles on well-characterized or multiple genetic backgrounds, alleles are frequently moved to a genetic background different from that on which an allele was first characterized. It should be noted that the phenotype could vary from that originally described. We will modify the strain description if necessary as published results become available.

Allele

Symbol: Mecp2^tm1Bird
Name: targeted mutation 1, Adrian Bird
MGI accession ID: MGI:2137555
Generation method: Targeted
Attributes: Conditional ready (e.g. floxed); No functional change
Marker symbol: Mecp2
Marker name: methyl CpG binding protein 2
Chromosome: X
Strain of origin: 129P2/OlaHsd
Molecular note: Insertion of a neomycin resistance cassette into the gene introduced loxP sites that flank exons 3 and 4, and added an intron and polyadenylation signal from the human beta globin gene. From the mutated allele, Northern blot analysis detected the wild type mature transcript and also a transcript in which the beta globin intron was unspliced.