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.
