B6.129S-Cyp19a1^tm1.1Shah/J

Stock number: 012377
Research areas: Neurobiology Research, Research Tools

Description

These mutant mice possess a reporter cassette, IRES-PLAP-IRES-nlacZ, downstream of the stop codon in the 3' UTR of the targeted locus. These mice may be useful for visualizing aromatase-positive cells to define where testosterone may be converted into estrogen in the mouse brain.

Detailed description

Mice that are homozygous for this allele are viable, fertile, normal in size and do not display any gross physical or behavioral abnormalities. These mutant mice possess a reporter cassette, IRES-PLAP-IRES-nlacZ, downstream of the stop codon in the 3' UTR of the targeted locus. Nuclear β-galactosidase (β-gal) labels the nuclei of cells expressing aromatase, whereas human placental alkaline phosphatase (ALPP or PLAP) labels the cell membrane of such cells. These mice may be useful for visualizing aromatase-positive cells to define where testosterone may be converted into estrogen in the mouse brain.

Development

A targeting vector was designed with an internal ribosome entry site (IRES), a human placental alkaline phosphatase gene (ALPP or PLAP), a second IRES, and a nuclear targeted β-galactosidase (lacZ). This vector was introduced after the stop codon of the aromatase gene via electroporation into 129S/SvEv-derived MM13 embryonic stem (ES) cells. Correctly targeted ES cells were injected into blastocysts and resulting chimeric males were bred to C57BL/6J females. This line was backcrossed nine generations prior to arrival at The Jackson Laboratory. Upon arrival, mice were bred to C57BL/6J (Stock No. 000664) for at least one generation to establish the colony.

Allele

Symbol: Cyp19a1^tm1.1Shah
Name: targeted mutation 1.1, Nirao Shah
MGI accession ID: MGI:4418756
Generation method: Targeted
Attributes: Reporter
Marker symbol: Cyp19a1
Marker name: cytochrome P450, family 19, subfamily a, polypeptide 1
Chromosome: 9
Strain of origin: 129S/SvEv
Expressed genes: lacZ,beta-galactosidase,E. coli; ALPP,alkaline phosphatase, placental,human
Site of expression: lacZ is expressed in the nuclei of cells expressing aromatase, whereas human placental alkaline phosphatase (ALPP or PLAP) labels the cell membrane of such cells.
Molecular note: This allele contains an internal ribosome entry site (IRES), a human placental alkaline phosphatase gene, a second IRES, and a nuclear-targeted E. coli nlacZ gene inserted three base pairs 3' of the stop codon of the aromatase gene. The targeting vector also contained a self-excising neomycin resistance cassette (ACN) upstream of the IRES-ALPP-IRES nlacZ. Upon passage through the male germline ACN was deleted, leaving a single loxP site and the IRES-ALPP-IRES-nlacZ construct.