B6;129P2-Avil^{tm1(ALPP)Fawa}/J

Stock number: 010745
Research areas: Neurobiology Research, Research Tools

Description

This targeted mutation of the Avil gene displays reduced regenerative axon growth and may be useful in the visualization (via ALPP) of sensory neurons and axon projections.

Detailed description

A human placental alkaline phosphatase (ALPP) gene was used to disrupt the mouse advillin(Avil) locus. Approximately 50% of mice that are homozygous for the targeted mutation die before E10.5, however, the remaining homozygotes are viable, fertile, and normal in size and do not display any gross physical or behavioral abnormalities. Alkaline phosphatase staining of heterozygote sections allows visualization of peripheral sensory neurons. Trigeminal sensory neurons cultured from homozygotes display a reduction in regenerative axon growth. Following whisker cauterization in homozygotes, trigeminal central projections exhibit a reduced plasticity. This mutant mouse strain may be useful in the visualization of sensory neurons and axon projections as well as in the study of axon remodeling and regrowth.

Development

A targeting vector containing the human placental alkaline phosphatase (ALPP) gene and a loxP-flanked self-excision neo (ACN) cassette was used to disrupt exon 2, which contains the start codon. The ACN neo cassette is self-excised by cre recombination in the germline of male chimeras leaving a single loxP site after the ALPP gene. The construct was electroporated into 129P2/OlaHsd-derived embryonic stem (ES) cells. Correctly targeted ES cells were injected into recipient blastocysts. The resulting chimeric animals were crossed to C57BL/6 mice for an unknown number of generations. Upon arrival, mice were bred to C57BL/6J for at least 1 generation to establish the colony.

Allele

Symbol: Avil^{tm1(ALPP)Fawa}
Name: targeted mutation 1, Fan Wang
MGI accession ID: MGI:3774413
Generation method: Targeted
Attributes: Reporter; Null/Knockout
Marker symbol: Avil
Marker name: advillin
Chromosome: 10
Strain of origin: 129P2/OlaHsd
Expressed genes: ALPP,alkaline phosphatase, placental,human
Molecular note: The open reading frame for human placental alkaline phosphatase and a floxed neo cassette was knocked into exon 2. The absence of transcript expression was confirmed by in situ hybridization. This is a null allele.