C57BL/6-Arc^tm1Stl/J

Stock number: 007662
Product name: Arc-d2EGFP
Strain synonyms: Arc-GFP KIKO , Arc^d2EGFP KIKO , Arc^GFP KIKO
Research areas: Neurobiology Research, Research Tools, Sensorineural Research

Description

A destabilized form of GFP (d2EGFP) is expressed under the control of the endogenous Arc promoter which is activated by neuronal stimulation in forebrain regions. EGFP expression is shortened to approximately two hours which is comparable to the decay time of ARC protein. Homozygous mice have a reduced orientation specificity in the visual cortex. This strain may be useful in studies of the visual cortex mechanisms.

Detailed description

Mice homozygous for this targeted mutation are viable and fertile and do not display any gross physical or behavioral abnormalities. A destabilized form of GFP (d2EGFP) is expressed under the control of the endogenous Arc promoter which is activated by neuronal stimulation in forebrain regions. The half-life of EGFP expression is shortened to approximately two hours which is comparable to the decay time of ARC protein. Homozygous mice have a reduced orientation specificity in the visual cortex. The loss of Arc mRNA expression in homozygous mice was verified by RT-PCR analysis of brain total RNA preparations. This strain may be useful in studies of cortical functions.

Development

A targeting vector was designed to introduce d2EGFP followed by a floxed neomycin resistance cassette (in the same orientation) into the Nde1 site after the ATG start codon of the gene. The plasmid was electroporated into C57BL/6NTac-derived embryonic stem (ES) cells. The first 48 base pairs of the open reading frame before the SacII site were deleted as a result of recombination. ES cell clones were injected into BALB/c blastocysts to derive chimeric mice. This strain was created and maintained on the C57BL/6NTac background by the donating laboratory. Upon arrival at The Jackson Laboratory, the strain may be bred to C57BL/6NJ inbred mice (Stock No. 005304) for at least one generation.

Allele

Symbol: Arc^tm1Stl
Name: targeted mutation 1, Susumu Tonegawa
MGI accession ID: MGI:3694120
Generation method: Targeted
Attributes: Reporter; Null/Knockout
Synonyms: Arc-d2EGFP; Arc-GFP
Marker symbol: Arc
Marker name: activity regulated cytoskeletal-associated protein
Marker synonyms: Arc3.1; arg 3.1; Arg3.1; hArc; rg3.1
Chromosome: 15
Strain of origin: C57BL/6
Expressed genes: GFP,Green Fluorescent Protein,
Site of expression: EGFP expression is under the control of the endogenous Arc promoter that is activated by neuronal stimulation in forebrain regions.
Molecular note: A targeting vector was designed to insert a d2EGFP-stop cassette and a floxed neo after the ATG start codon. Western blot confirmed absence of protein in mutant brain samples.