STOCK Gata4^tm1.1Sad/J

Stock number: 008194
Research areas: Research Tools

Description

These GATA binding protein 4 conditional mice may be useful in generating conditional mutations for studying GATA4 function during organogenesis (such as cardiogenesis) or in adult mice.

Detailed description

Mice homozygous for this Gata4^loxP conditional allele are viable and fertile, with loxP sites flanking exons 3-5 of the targeted gene. When bred to mice that express Cre recombinase, the resulting offspring will have this region (coding for both zinc finger DNA-binding domains and the nuclear localization signal essential for GATA4 function) deleted in the cre-expressing tissue(s). These GATA binding protein 4 conditional mice may be useful in generating conditional mutations for studying GATA4 function during organogenesis (such as cardiogenesis) or in adult mice.

For example, when crossed to a strain expressing Cre recombinase in cardiac myocytes (see Stock No. 009074), this mutant mouse strain may be useful in studies of cardiac hypertrophy, stress-compensation and myocyte viability.

When bred to a strain expressing Cre recombinase in heart muscle (see Stock No. 010581 for example), this mutant mouse strain may be useful in studies of cardiac hypertrophy.

Development

A targeting vector was designed to place a loxP-flanked thymidine kinase/neomycin phosphotransferase expression (tk/neo) cassette upstream of exon 3, and a third loxP site just downstream of exon 5 of the targeted gene. The targeting construct was electroporated into (129X1/SvJ x 129S1/Sv)F1-derived R1 embryonic stem (ES) cells. Correctly targeted ES cells were transiently transfected with a cre expressing plasmid to remove the selection cassette (generating the Gata4^loxP allele; with one loxP site upstream of exon 3 and one loxP site downstream of exon 5). These ES cells were combined with CD1 morula to generate chimeric animals, which were then bred with CD1 mice. These Gata4^loxP mice were maintained on a mixed genetic background prior to arrival at The Jackson Laboratory. Upon arrival, mice may have been bred to 129S1/SvImJ for at least one generation to establish the colony.

Allele

Symbol: Gata4^tm1.1Sad
Name: targeted mutation 1.1, Stephen A Duncan
MGI accession ID: MGI:3778685
Generation method: Targeted
Attributes: Conditional ready (e.g. floxed); No functional change
Marker symbol: Gata4
Marker name: GATA binding protein 4
Chromosome: 14
Strain of origin: (129X1/SvJ x 129S1/Sv)F1-Kitl⁺
Molecular note: A targeting vector was designed to place a loxP-flanked thymidine kinase/neomycin phosphotransferase expression (tk/neo) cassette upstream of exon 3, and a third loxP site just downstream of exon 5 of the targeted gene. Correctly targeted ES cells were transiently transfected with a cre expressing plasmid to remove the selection cassette (generating the Gata4-loxP allele; with one loxP site upstream of exon 3 and one loxP site downstream of exon 5). (details provided by SA Duncan, personal communication.)