STOCK Tg(Krt8-cre/ERT2)17Blpn/J

Stock number: 017947
Product name: K8-CreER
Research areas: Research Tools

Description

These K8-CreER transgenic mice express the Cre-ERT2 fusion gene under control of the mouse Krt8 promoter. They may have applications related to lineage tracing. When bred with mice containing a loxP-flanked sequence, tamoxifen-inducible, Cre-mediated recombination will result in deletion of the flanked sequences in mammary gland luminal epithelial cells.

Detailed description

Keratin 8 is an intermediate filament cytoskeleton protein and is protective in TNF- and Fas-mediated apoptosis. Merkel cells are neuroendocrine cells found in touch domes (mechanoreceptor zones in the skin) of the epithelial basal layer and some mucosa. Merkel cells express both intermediate filaments and neuropeptides. These transgenic mice express CreERT2 under the direction of the mouse Krt8, keratin 8, promoter. When these K8-CreER mice, founder line 17, are bred with mice containing a loxP-flanked sequence of interest, tamoxifen-inducible, Cre-mediated recombination will result in deletion of the flanked sequences in Merkel cells and simple epithelia. When bred to ROSA-YFP reporter mice, pulse/chase adminstration of tamoxifen results in the fluorescent labeling of mammary gland luminal epithelial cells. Mice that are homozygous for the targeted mutation are viable, fertile and normal in size. The Donating Investigator reports that there is no difference in phenotype between hemizygotes and homozygotes.

Development

A transgenic construct containing Cre-ERT2 under the control of the mouse Krt8, keratin 8, promoter, beta-globin intron and SV40 polyadenylation site sequence was injected into fertilized C57BL/6 mouse eggs. Founder line 17 was subsequently established. The transgenic animals were then bred to CD1 mice. Upon arrival at The Jackson Laboratory, the mice were crossed to C57BL/6J (Stock No. 000664) at least once to establish the colony.

Allele

Symbol: Tg(Krt8-cre/ERT2)17Blpn
Name: transgene insertion 17, Cedric Blanpain
MGI accession ID: MGI:5305437
Generation method: Transgenic
Attributes: Recombinase-expressing; Inducible
Marker symbol: Tg(Krt8-cre/ERT2)17Blpn
Marker name: transgene insertion 17, Cedric Blanpain
Chromosome: UN
Strain of origin: Not Specified
Expressed genes: cre/ERT2,Cre recombinase and estrogen receptor 1 (human) fusion gene,
Site of expression: When mice carrying this transgene are bred with mice containing a loxP-flanked sequence of interest, tamoxifen-inducible, Cre-mediated recombination will result in deletion of the flanked sequences in Merkel cells and simple epithelia.
Molecular note: A transgene construct containing 3.5 kb of sequence upstream of the ATG start site of the mouse Krt8 gene (purified from BAC clone RP23-254K21), the beta globin intron, SV40 polyadenylation site and a cre/ERT2 segment was injected into C57Bl/6 fertilized eggs. Four of seven founder mice displayed the expected pattern of expression and Founder line 17 was subsequently established. The transgenic animals were then bred to CD1 mice.