B6.129S6-Itga8^tm1.1Rdav/J

Stock number: 015840
Research areas: Cancer Research, Cell Biology Research, Developmental Biology Research, Immunology, Inflammation and Autoimmunity Research, Neurobiology Research, Research Tools

Description

These f(α8) conditional mutant mice have loxP sites flanking the exons encoding the transmembrane and the cytoplasmic domains of the Itga8 gene (also called integrin alpha 8, alpha8-integrin, or α8-integrin). These f(α8) mutant mice may be useful in generating conditional mutations for studying the role of Itga8 transmembrane cell adhesion receptors in neuronal function in the developing and adult central nervous system, including intracellular signaling, behavior, synaptic plasticity, and memory formation.

Detailed description

Mice homozygous for this f(α8) conditional allele are viable and fertile, with loxP sites flanking the last two coding exons (exons 29-30) of the Itga8 gene (also called integrin alpha 8, alpha8-integrin, or α8-integrin). When bred to mice that express Cre recombinase, the resulting offspring will have the sequences encoding the transmembrane and the cytoplasmic domains deleted in the cre-expressing tissue(s). These f(α8) mutant mice may be useful in generating conditional mutations for studying the role of Itga8 transmembrane cell adhesion receptors in neuronal function in the developing and adult central nervous system, including intracellular signaling, behavior, synaptic plasticity, and memory formation.

For example, when f(α8) mice are bred to mice expressing Cre recombinase in forebrain neurons (see Stock No. 005359 for example), the double mutant offspring may exhibit impaired synaptic plasticity/long-term potentiation of the hippocampus.

Development

A targeting vector was designed to insert a loxP site just upstream of exon 29, and also insert a loxP-flanked TK-neo cassette ~4kb downstream of the STOP codon in exon 30 of the Itga8 gene (also called integrin alpha 8, alpha8-integrin, or α8-integrin). The construct was electroporated into 129S6/SvEv-derived embryonic stem (ES) cells. Correctly targeted ES cells were then transiently transfected with a Cre recombinase-expressing plasmid. The resulting ES cells with the f(α8) genotype (TK-neo selection cassette removed; leaving a single loxP site upstream of exon 29 and a single loxP site downstream of exon 30) were injected into recipient blastocysts. Chimeric males were bred with C57BL/6J females. These f(α8) mutant mice were then backcrossed to C57BL/6J mice for at least ten generations prior to sending to The Jackson Laboratory Repository. Upon arrival, mice were bred with C57BL/6J inbred mice (Stock No. 000664) for at least one generation to establish the colony. During backcrossing, the Y chromosome may not have been fixed to the C57BL/6J genetic background.

Allele

Symbol: Itga8^tm1.1Rdav
Name: targeted mutation 1.1, Ronald Davis
MGI accession ID: MGI:4948106
Generation method: Targeted
Attributes: Conditional ready (e.g. floxed); No functional change
Marker symbol: Itga8
Marker name: integrin alpha 8
Chromosome: 2
Strain of origin: 129S6/SvEvTac
Molecular note: A targeting vector was designed to insert a loxP site just upstream of exon 29, and also insert a loxP-flanked TK-neo cassette about 4kb downstream of the STOP codon in exon 30 of the Itga8 gene (also called integrin alpha 8, alpha8-integrin, or a8-integrin). Cre-mediated recombination removed the TK-neo selection cassette, leaving a single loxP site upstream of exon 29 and a single loxP site downstream of exon 30.