These Vps34f/f mutant mice possess loxP sites flanking exon 4 of the phosphoinositide-3-kinase, class 3 (Pik3c3) gene. Also known as Vsp34, Pik3c3 generates phosphatidylinositol 3-phosphate, a regulator of membrane trafficking such as autophagy and endocytosis. Mice that are homozygous for this allele are viable and fertile. When these mutant mice are bred to mice that express Cre recombinase, resulting offspring will have exon 4 deleted in the cre-expressing tissues.
For example, when bred to B6.Cg-Tg(Alb-cre)21Mgn/J mice (Stock No. 003574) expressing cre recombinase in liver, resulting mice develop hepatomegaly and hepatic steatosis, with impaired protein turnover. These double mutant mice exhibit decreased survival, with 50% lethality in the first 2 months of life.
For example, when bred to B6.FVB(129S4)-Tg(Ckmm-cre)5Khn/J mice (Stock No. 006475) expressing cre recombinase in heart, mice exhibit cardiomegaly and decreased contractility. These double mutant mice die between 5 and 13 weeks of age.
