STOCK Ascl1^tm1Reed/J

Stock number: 012881
Product name: Ascl1^GFP
Research areas: Developmental Biology Research, Endocrine Deficiency Research, Neurobiology Research, Research Tools

Description

The Ascl1^GFP knock-in/knock-out allele has the entire coding region of the endogenous mouse achaete-scute complex homolog 1 (Ascl1 or Mash1) replaced with a nuclear localized green fluorescent protein (GFP), abolishing gene function. These mice may be useful for studying the lineage of distinct cell populations, neuronal turnover, and neuronal replacement upon traumatic injury.

Detailed description

In this strain the entire coding region of the endogenous mouse achaete-scute complex homolog 1 (Ascl1 or Mash1) gene is replaced with a nuclear localized green fluorescent protein (GFP) gene, abolishing gene function. GFP, driven by the Ascl1 promoter sequence, is expressed in all Ascl1-expressing neural progenitor cells in the embryo and the adult brain, including subsets of neurons throughout the central nervous system (CNS) and the peripheral nervous system (PNS), and in neuroendocrine cells in lung and kidney. Homozygotes die within hours of birth due to CNS and PNS disruptions in neural development. Mice heterozygous for the targeted mutation are viable, fertile, and normal in size. These mice may be useful for studying the lineage of distinct cell populations, neuronal turnover, and neuronal replacement upon traumatic injury.

Development

A targeting vector was designed to replace the entire coding region of the Ascl1 gene with a nuclear localized GFP gene and a floxed neomycin (neo) selection cassette. The construct was electroporated into 129/Sv-derived embryonic stem (ES) cells. Correctly targeted ES cells were injected into C57BL/6 blastocysts and the resulting chimeric mice were bred to C57BL/6 mice. These mice were then bred to mice containing Cre-recombinase to remove the floxed neo. These mice were then backcrossed at least 6 generations to an outbred ICR strain. Upon arrival at The Jackson Laboratory, mice were bred to C57BL/6J (Stock No. 000664) for at least one generation to establish the colony.

Allele

Symbol: Ascl1^tm1Reed
Name: targeted mutation 1, Randall R Reed
MGI accession ID: MGI:3767434
Generation method: Targeted
Attributes: Reporter; Null/Knockout
Marker symbol: Ascl1
Marker name: achaete-scute family bHLH transcription factor 1
Chromosome: 10
Strain of origin: Not Specified
Expressed genes: GFP,Green Fluorescent Protein,
Site of expression: GFP is expressed in all Ascl1-expressing neural progenitor cells in the embryo and the adult brain, including subsets of neurons throughout the central nervous system (CNS) and the peripheral nervous system (PNS), and in neuroendocrine cells in lung and kidney.
Molecular note: The coding region was replaced by a nuclear-localized GFP. GFP expression mimics endogenous expression (unpublished).