B6.Cg-Tg(Thy1-CFP/COX8A)C1Lich/J

Stock number: 007940
Research areas: Cell Biology Research, Neurobiology Research, Research Tools

Description

These transgenic mice express Cyan Fluorescent Protein (CFP) under the control of the mouse thymus cell antigen 1, theta, Thy1, promoter. CFP is specifically localized to the mitochondria by a human cytochrome c oxidase, subunit 8A (ubiquitous), targeting signal fused to the N-terminus. This mutant mouse strain may be useful in studies of mitochondrial transport.

Detailed description

These transgenic mice express Cyan Fluorescent Protein (CFP) under the control of the mouse thymus cell antigen 1, theta, Thy1, promoter. CFP is specifically localized to the mitochondria by a human cytochrome c oxidase, subunit 8A (ubiquitous), targeting signal fused to the N-terminus. Fluorescence is detected in many neuronal populations including retinal cells and in all motor axons. Coronal brain sections reveal a fluorescence pattern showing somatosensory cortex barrel morphology. Neuronal, mitochondrial and neuromuscular junction morphology appears normal in transgenic mice. Axonal mitochondrial density is similar to wildtype. Homozygotes are viable, fertile, normal in size and do not display any gross physical or behavioral abnormalities. This mutant mouse strain may be useful in studies of mitochondrial transport.

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. This is the case for the strain above. 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.

Development

A transgenic construct containing the entire open reading frame of the Cyan Fluorescent Protein gene fused in-frame with the mitochondrial targeting sequence of the human cytochrome c oxidase subunit 8A (ubiquitous) gene under the direction of regulatory elements derived from the mouse Thy1 gene was injected into fertilized B6CBA mouse eggs. Regulatory elements are composed of a 6.5 kb fragment obtained from the 5' portion of the Thy1 gene, extending from the promoter to the intron following exon 4. Exon 3 and its flanking introns are absent. The deleted sequences are required for expression in non-neural cells but not in neurons. The remainder of the sequence is required for neuronal expression. Founder line C1, corresponding to the published line C, was subsequently established. The mice were backcrossed for at least 5 generations to C57BL/6J.

Allele

Symbol: Tg(Thy1-CFP/COX8A)C1Lich
Name: transgene insertion C1, Jeff W Lichtman
MGI accession ID: MGI:3715524
Generation method: Transgenic
Attributes: Reporter
Marker symbol: Tg(Thy1-CFP/COX8A)C1Lich
Marker name: transgene insertion C1, Jeff W Lichtman
Chromosome: UN
Strain of origin: Not Applicable
Expressed genes: CFP,Cyan Fluorescent Protein,jellyfish; COX8A,cytochrome c oxidase subunit 8A,human
Site of expression: mitochondria; many neuronal populations including retinal cells and all motor axons; coronal brain sections show pattern of somatosensory cortex barrel morphology
Molecular note: A transgenic construct containing the entire open reading frame of the Cyan Fluorescent Protein (CFP) gene fused in-frame with the mitochondrial targeting sequence of the human cytochrome c oxidase subunit 8A (ubiquitous) gene under the direction of regulatory elements derived from the mouse Thy1 gene was injected into fertilized donor mouse eggs. Regulatory elements are composed of a 6.5 kb fragment obtained from the 5' portion of the Thy1 gene, extending from the promoter to the intron following exon 4. Exon 3 and its flanking introns are absent. The deleted sequences are required for expression in non-neural cells but not in neurons. The remainder of the sequence is required for neuronal expression. Founder line C1, corresponding to the published line C, was subsequently established.
General note: Founder line C1 corresponds to the published line C.