These Fox1flox mutant mice possess loxP sites flanking exons 11-12 of the RNA binding protein, fox-1 homolog 1 (Rbfox1) gene. Mice that are homozygous for this allele are viable, fertile, and normal in size. Fox-1 is expressed in brain, heart, and skeletal muscle and regulates alternative splicing in vertebrates by binding specifically to (U)GCAUG sequences. When these mutant mice are bred to mice that express Cre recombinase, the resulting offspring will have exons 11-12 deleted in the Cre-expressing tissue, resulting in inactivation of Fox-1 gene function.
For example, when crossed to a strain expressing Cre recombinase in the central and peripheral nervous system (see Stock No. 003771), this mutant mouse strain may be useful in studies of neuronal excitation and seizures.
When bred to mice carrying Tg(Pcp2-cre)2Mpin (Stock No. 004146) and Rbfox2tm1.1Dblk (Stock No. 014090) , Cre recombinase expression in the Purkinje cells may be useful in studies of Purkinje cell pacemaking.
