STOCK Tg(Rr5-GFP/cre)1Sapc/J

Stock number: 012452
Research areas: Neurobiology Research, Research Tools

Description

Hoxb4-ENE-GFPCre transgenic mice have expression of a GFP/Cre fusion protein directed primarily to developing spinal cord and hindbrain by the mouse homeobox B4 early neuronal enhancer (ENE) region and heat shock protein 1B minimal promoter. These Hoxb4-ENE-GFPCre transgenic mice may be useful as a Cre-lox or fluorescent tool for the fate-mapping/lineage-tracing of Hoxb4-expressing neurons in the developing neural tube.

Detailed description

Hoxb4-ENE-GFPCre transgenic mice are viable and fertile, with expression of a GFP/Cre fusion protein directed primarily to developing spinal cord and hindbrain by the mouse homeobox B4 early neuronal enhancer (ENE) region and heat shock protein 1B minimal promoter. Cre recombinase activity is observed from embryonic day (E)9.0-13.5 throughout the neural tube in the hindbrain, the dorsal root ganglia, motor neurons, and the Xth cranial ganglia (vagus); with a sharp anterior boundary at rhombomeres 6 and 7 (r6/r7). Ectopic cre activity is reported in the Vth cranial nerve (trigeminal) of E10.5-11.5 embryos. GFP fluorescence is first detectable at E9.0, strongest at E10.5, and absent by ~E12.0. GFP fluorescence is localized to the neural tube and the hindbrain with a sharp anterior limit between rhombomeres 7 and 8 (r7/r8) at E9.5. GFP expression at the anterior r7/r8 boundary was maintained through E11.5, while the posterior boundary expanded caudally from E9.5-E11.5. When bred with mice containing loxP-flanked sequences, Cre-mediated recombination will result in deletion of the floxed sequences in the Hoxb4-expressing cells of the offspring. These Hoxb4-ENE-GFPCre transgenic mice may be useful as a Cre-lox or fluorescent tool for the fate-mapping/lineage-tracing of Hoxb4-expressing neurons in the developing neural tube.

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. 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

The ~3.2 kb Hoxb4-ENE-GFP-Cre (or Hoxb4-ENE-hsp68-GFPCre) transgene was designed with (from 5' to 3') an 880 bp fragment containing the early neuronal enhancer (ENE) region located downstream of the mouse homeobox B4 gene (Hoxb4), a 600 bp minimal promoter sequence from the mouse heat shock protein 1B gene (Hspa1b or hsp68), a Green Fluorescent Protein/Cre Recombinase (EGFP/Cre) fusion protein coding sequence followed by an SV40-IVS-polyA signal. The donating investigator reports that this transgene was injected into the pronuclei of FVB/NJ fertilized eggs. The resulting transgenic offspring were bred to ICR outbred mice to establish the founder line. These Hoxb4-ENE-GFPCre transgenic mice were bred to ICR for at least 8-10 generations. These mice were then bred to C57BL/6J mice at least once. Transgenic mice on this mixed genetic background (approximately 50% C57BL/6J and 50% ICR) were sent to The Jackson Laboratory. Upon arrival, mice were bred with C57BL/6J inbred mice (Stock No. 000664) for at least one generation to establish the colony.

Allele

Symbol: Tg(Rr5-GFP/cre)1Sapc
Name: transgene insertion 1, Sabine P Cordes
MGI accession ID: MGI:3793851
Generation method: Transgenic
Attributes: Recombinase-expressing
Marker symbol: Tg(Rr5-GFP/cre)1Sapc
Marker name: transgene insertion 1, Sabine P Cordes
Chromosome: UN
Strain of origin: FVB/NJ
Expressed genes: GFP,Green Fluorescent Protein,; cre,cre recombinase,bacteriophage P1
Site of expression: Expression of a GFP/Cre fusion protein is directed primarily to developing spinal cord and hindbrain.
Molecular note: The early neuronal Hoxb4 enhancers with an Hspa1b minimal promoter were used to drive expression of a GFP/cre fusion gene in neural tissue including the neural tube up to the r6/r7 boundary, the dorsal root ganglia, the trigeminal (Vth) cranial nerve, and Xth cranial nerve. No line information was given.