CAG::KikGR33 transgenic mice express a Kikume Green-Red (KikGR) photoconvertible fluorescent protein under the control of a CMV enhancer/chicken beta-actin promoter (CAGGS) promoter. Mice homozygous for the transgene are viable, fertile, normal in size, and do not display any gross physical or behavioral abnormalities. KikGR, engineered from Favia favus coral, changes color from green to red upon activation in embryos, adult mice, and embryonic stem (ES) cells. At basal state, green fluorescence is seen in all cells. A single cell or group of cells at basal state, exposed to 405 nm wavelength light, undergo photo conversion and fluoresce red. Since KikGR is developmentally neutral and non-toxic, the movement of these fluorescent cells, and their progeny, can be imaged during embryonic development. Mice from founder line 33 exhibits widespread expression of KikGR, while mice from founder line 75 (Stock No. 013754) exhibited widespread KikGR expression in a more mosaic pattern, allowing the analysis of cell morphology and cell behavior dynamics. These mice are useful as reporters for studying individual cell behaviors, population dynamics and cell fate in embryos and adult mice.
