The GluA1fl floxed allele (also called GluR1flox, GluR-A2lox, or AQ-2lox allele) has loxP sites flanking exon 11. Homozygous mice are viable and fertile. When bred to mice that express Cre recombinase, the resulting offspring will have the glutamate receptor transmembrane domain ion channel pore deleted in cre-expressing tissues. These GluA1fl mice may be useful in generating tissue-specific AMPA-type glutamate receptor deletions. Specific examples are described below.
When GluA1fl mice are bred to a strain expressing Cre recombinase in germ-line or embryonic tissues, the resulting mice are useful in studying the pan deletion of glutamate receptor function. GluA1 knockout mice are also distributed from The Jackson Laboratory Repository as Stock No. 019011.
When GluA1fl mice are bred to a strain with Cre recombinase in parvalbumin-expressing cells (see Stock Nos. 012358, 010777, 008069), the resulting mice allow studying interneurons and hippocampus function.
When GluA1fl mice are bred to a strain with Cre recombinase in dopamine neurotransmitter transporter-expressing cells (see Stock Nos. 016583 or 006660), the resulting mice allow studying dopaminergic neurons.
When GluA1fl mice are bred to a strain with Cre recombinase in Mnx1-expressing cells (HB9cre; Stock No 006600), the resulting mice allow neurodevelopmental studies of homeobox genes, motor neurons, and a subpopulation of spinal cord interneurons.
When GluA1fl mice are bred to a strain with tamoxifen-inducible Cre recombinase expression in glial high affinity glutamate transporter-expressing cells (see GLAST-CreER; Stock No 012586), the resulting mice allow neurodevelopmental studies of glia and neural progenitor cells.
