B6.Cg-Tg(Fos/EGFP)1-3Brth/J

Stock number: 014135
Product name: fosGFP
Research areas: Neurobiology Research, Research Tools

Description

Fos/EGFP transgenic mice express a fusion gene consisting of the murine FBJ osteosarcoma oncogene (Fos) and enhanced green fluorescence protein (EGFP). These mice may be useful for visualizing Fos-expression in stimulated neurons, and for studying changes in neuron excitability and synaptic efficacy.

Detailed description

Fos/EGFP transgenic mice express a fusion gene consisting of the murine FBJ osteosarcoma oncogene (Fos) and enhanced green fluorescence protein (EGFP). Hemizygous Fos/EGFP mice are viable, fertile, and normal in size. Fos is a member of the activator protein-1 family of transcription factors and serves as a marker for neural activity. At basal state, Fos is expressed at low levels in the cerebellum, olfactory bulb, hippocampus, and neocortex. Fos expression is induced by a wide array of stimuli, including seizure, cortical injury, dehydration, and pain. In these mice, the Fos/EGFP fusion protein is expressed in recently activated neurons. These mice may be useful for visualizing Fos-expression in stimulated neurons, and for studying changes in neuron excitability and synaptic efficacy.

Development

A transgenic vector was generated including the entire coding region of the FBJ osteosarcoma oncogene (Fos). The C-terminal of the Fos gene was fused to an enhanced green fluorescence protein (EGFP) followed by a polyadenylation signal. The donating investigator stated that the construct was microinjected into (DBA x C57BL/6) F1 fertilized oocytes, and mice from founder line 1-3 were bred to C57BL/6 mice (see SNP note below) for at least 17 generations. Upon arrival at The Jackson Laboratory, transgenic mice were bred to C57BL/6J inbred mice (Stock No. 000664) for at least one generation to establish the colony.

A 32 SNP (single nucleotide polymorphism) panel analysis, with 27 markers covering all 19 chromosomes and the X chromosome, as well as 5 markers that distinguish between the C57BL/6J and C57BL/6N substrains, was performed on the rederived living colony at The Jackson Laboratory Repository. While the 27 markers throughout the genome suggested a C57BL/6 genetic background, 4 of 5 markers that determine C57BL/6J from C57BL/6N were found to be segregating. These data suggest the mice sent to The Jackson Laboratory Repository were on a C57BL/6N genetic background.

Allele

Symbol: Tg(Fos/EGFP)1-3Brth
Name: transgene insertion 1-3, Alison Barth
MGI accession ID: MGI:4443034
Generation method: Transgenic
Attributes: Reporter
Marker symbol: Tg(Fos/EGFP)1-3Brth
Marker name: transgene insertion 1-3, Alison Barth
Chromosome: UN
Strain of origin: (DBA x C57BL/6)F1
Expressed genes: GFP,Green Fluorescent Protein,
Site of expression: Fos/EGFP fusion protein is expressed in recently activated neurons.
Molecular note: This transgene contains a fusion of the c-fos promoter and the c-fos coding region, including exons and introns, to the coding region for enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) creating a fosGFP C-terminus fusion protein. The gene for EGFP was fused in frame to the last exon, and the poly(A) tail is derived from the IRES (phosphorylated-internal ribosomal entry site)-EGFP. Four lines were established (lines 1-3, 4-1, 5-1, and 6-1) with slightly different levels of expression in the central nervous system.