STOCK Tg(KRT18-cre/ERT2)23Blpn/J

Stock number: 017948
Product name: K18-CREER #23
Research areas: Neurobiology Research, Research Tools

Description

These transgenic mice express a tamoxifen-inducible cre recombinase from the human KRT18, keratin 18, promoter. When induced, cre activity is observed in Merkel cells of the skin and simple epithelia. They may be useful in lineage tracing.

Detailed description

Keratin 18 is an intermediate filament cytoskeleton protein found in adult simple epithelial tissues. 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 human KRT18, keratin 18, promoter. When these K18-CREER#23 mice are bred with mice containing a loxP-flanked sequence, 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 17% of vibrissa Merkel cells 1 week after pulse, and 9% after 3 weeks. Mice that are hemizygous for the targeted mutation are viable, normal in size and do not display any gross physical or behavioral abnormalities. The Donating Investigator has not attempted to make this strain homozygous.

Development

A transgenic construct containing Cre-ERT2 under the control of the human KRT18, keratin 18, promoter, SV40 intron and SV40 polyadenylation site sequence was injected into fertilized C57BL/6 mouse eggs. Founder line 23 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(KRT18-cre/ERT2)23Blpn
Name: transgene insertion 23, Cedric Blanpain
MGI accession ID: MGI:4821951
Generation method: Transgenic
Attributes: Recombinase-expressing; Inducible
Marker symbol: Tg(KRT18-cre/ERT2)23Blpn
Marker name: transgene insertion 23, Cedric Blanpain
Chromosome: UN
Strain of origin: C57BL/6
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, tamoxifen-inducible, Cre-mediated recombination will result in deletion of the flanked sequences in Merkel cells and simple epithelia.
Molecular note: A fragment encoding cre recombinase fused to a modified estrogen receptor ligand-binding domain (ERT2) was cloned into a vector containing the human KRT18 promoter. The construct was injected into fertilized oocytes to generated transgenic mice. Two lines were obtained. Line 23 was used in the original reference.