C57BL/6-Tg(Prnp-TARDBP*M337V)4Ptrc/J

Stock number: 017604
Research areas: Mouse/Human Gene Homologs, Neurobiology Research, Research Tools

Description

These hTDP-43_M337V transgenic mice express mutant human TARDBP protein under direction of the mouse prion protein (Prnp) promoter. They may be useful in studying neuromuscular and neurodegenerative disorders such as ALS (Lou Gehrig's Disease).

Detailed description

These hTDP-43_M337V transgenic mice express a full length mutant human TAR DNA binding protein (TARDBP or TDP-43) cDNA under the direction of a mouse prion protein promoter. The cDNA is modified such that at codon 337, a methionine to replaced by a valine(M337V). The M337V mutation is associated with increased low molecular weight fragments, neuronal apoptosis and developmental delay in chick embryos. TDP-43 is a ubiquinated protein localized to the nucleus of cells. Accumulations of TDP-43 are associated with the development of Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Hemizygotes are viable, fertile, and normal in size, while homozygotes are initially viable with 70% dying within the first month of life. These mice express human TDP-43_M337V primarily in the nuclei of neurons throughout much of the gray matter of the spinal cord and brain, including the brainstem and cortex. Homozygotes and hemizygous express TDP-43_M337V in brain at 2.7 and 1.9-fold endogenous TDP-43 levels, respectively. Endogenous TDP-43 is down-regulated in response to transgene overexpression. By 21 days of age homozygotes develop body tremors, have difficulty walking, and develop an irregular "dragging" gait. By 1 month of age, homozygous TDP-43_M337V mutants are smaller than hemizygous littermates, exhibit muscle weakness and become unable to right themselves. These mice exhibit reactive gliosis, and TDP-43_M337V/ubiquitin aggregates containing phosphorylated TDP-43_M337V. Hemizygous mice are indistinguishable from wildtype littermates. These transgenic mice may be useful in studying neuromuscular and neurodegenerative disorders such as ALS (Lou Gehrig's Disease) and frontotemporal lobar degeneration with ubiquitin aggregates.

Development

The hTDP-43_M337V transgene was designed with the mouse prion protein (Prnp) promoter driving expression of a mutant form of the human TARDBP gene modified to have the methionine to valine substitution at codon 337 (M337V). The transgene was microinjected into fertilized C57BL/6 oocytes. Mice from the founder line 4 were bred to C57BL/6 mice to generate the hTDP-43_M337V line 4 colony. Transgenic mice from line 4 were bred together, and then maintained by breeding homozygous mice together for several generations prior to sending to The Jackson Laboratory Repository. Upon arrival, transgenic mice were bred to C57BL/6J mice (Stock No. 000664) for at least one generation to establish the colony.

Allele

Symbol: Tg(Prnp-TARDBP*M337V)4Ptrc
Name: transgene insertion 4, Leonard Petrucelli
MGI accession ID: MGI:5301818
Generation method: Transgenic
Attributes: Inserted expressed sequence; Humanized sequence
Marker symbol: Tg(Prnp-TARDBP*M337V)4Ptrc
Marker name: transgene insertion 4, Leonard Petrucelli
Chromosome: UN
Strain of origin: C57BL/6
Expressed genes: TARDBP,TAR DNA binding protein,human
Molecular note: The hTDP-43 transgene was designed with the mouse prion protein (Prnp) promoter driving expression of a mutant form of the human TARDBP gene modified to have the methionine to valine substitution at codon 337 (M337V). Line 4 was generated.