B6.Cg-Tg(Nrl-EGFP)1Asw/J

Stock number: 021232
Research areas: Research Tools, Sensorineural Research

Description

In this transgenic strain, the Nrl (neural retina leucine zipper gene) promoter drives expression of EGFP (enhanced green fluorescent protein) specifically in rod photoreceptors and the pineal gland.

Detailed description

Nrl (neural retina leucine zipper gene) encodes a retinal transcription factor that plays an essential role in rod photoreceptor differentiation and homeostasis. Dysfunction or death of rod photoreceptors precedes cone loss in many retinal and macular degenerative diseases.

In this transgenic strain, the Nrl promoter drives expression of EGFP (enhanced green fluorescent protein) specifically in rod photoreceptors and the pineal gland. In the adult retina, GFP is detected only in the outer nuclear layer, which contains rod and cone photoreceptor nuclei, and in the corresponding inner and outer segments. Immunostaining with anti-rhodopsin antibody shows complete colocalization with GFP, whereas no overlap is observed between GFP and cone-specific markers. Fluorescence is detected shortly after terminal cell division, corresponding to the timing of rod genesis. GFP-positive cells, although few and scattered, are first observed at E12 (embryonic day 12).

When combined with an Nrl knockout mutation (see Stock No. 021152), GFP-positive photoreceptors express S-opsin, consistent with the transformation of rod precursors into cones.

Development

A 2.5 kb upstream segment of the mouse Nrl gene (from -2408 to +115; GenBank AY526079) that includes four sequence regions that are conserved betweeen mouse and human drives expression of EGFP. The transgenic vector was introduced to B6SJLF2 embryos. This strain was backcrossed to C57BL/6J for 10 generations by the donating lab. This line carries 3 copies of the transgene.

Allele

Symbol: Tg(Nrl-EGFP)1Asw
Name: transgene insertion 1, Anand Swaroop
MGI accession ID: MGI:5465112
Generation method: Transgenic
Attributes: Reporter
Synonyms: Nrl-L-EGFP
Marker symbol: Tg(Nrl-EGFP)1Asw
Marker name: transgene insertion 1, Anand Swaroop
Chromosome: UN
Strain of origin: (C57BL/6 x SJL)F2
Expressed genes: GFP,Green Fluorescent Protein,
Site of expression: EGFP is expressed in rod photoreceptors and the pineal gland. In the adult retina, GFP is detected only in the outer nuclear layer, which contains rod and cone photoreceptor nuclei, and in the corresponding inner and outer segments.
Molecular note: A 2.5 kb upstream segment of the mouse Nrl gene (from -2408 to +115; GenBank AY526079) that includes four sequence regions that are conserved betweeen mouse and human drives expression of EGFP. Three lines were generated. Line 1 contains 3 copies of the transgene.