B6.129(Cg)-Homer2^tm1Mhd/PfwJ

Stock number: 023313
Research areas: Neurobiology Research

Description

These Homer2 KO mice may be useful for studying the role of HOMER2 on neurochemical defects.

Detailed description

These Homer2 KO mice have a neomycin cassette inserted into exon 3 of homer homolog 2 (Homer2) gene, abolishing gene expression. HOMER2 is a postsynaptic density scaffolding protein expressed in the central nervous system, as well as skeletal muscle, where it mediates the formation of large macromolecular complexes and regulates group 1 metabotrophic glutamate receptor function. Mice that are homozygous for this allele are viable and fertile. These mice avoid drinking high concentrations of ethanol (EtOH) and do not develop place preference or locomotor sensitization after administration. They display an increase in sensitivity to cocaine-induced locomotion and conditioned reward. They do not display any abnormalities in cognitive, motivational or emotional processing.

Development

A targeting vector was designed to insert a neomycin resistance (neo) cassette, in reverse orientation, into exon 3 of the homer homolog 2 (Homer2) gene. The construct was electroporated into (129X1/SvJ x 129S1/Sv)F1-Kitl⁺-derived R1 embryonic stem (ES) cells. Correctly targeted ES cells were injected into C57BL/6 blastocysts and the resulting chimeric males were bred to C57BL/6J females. The donating investigator reports that these mutant mice were then backcrossed to C57BL/6J mice for at least 5 generations (see SNP note below). Upon arrival at The Jackson Laboratory, mice were bred to C57BL/6J (Stock No. 000664) for at least one generation to establish the colony.

A 32 SNP (single nucleotide polymorphism) panel analysis, with 27 markers covering all 19 chromosomes and the X chromosome, as well as 5 markers that distinguish between the C57BL/6J and C57BL/6N substrains, was performed on the rederived living colony at The Jackson Laboratory Repository. While the 27 markers throughout the genome suggested a C57BL/6 genetic background, all 5 markers that determine C57BL/6J from C57BL/6N were found to be segregating. These data suggest the mice sent to The Jackson Laboratory Repository were on a C57BL/6N genetic background.

Allele

Symbol: Homer2^tm1Mhd
Name: targeted mutation 1, Marlin H Dehoff
MGI accession ID: MGI:3526530
Generation method: Targeted
Attributes: Null/Knockout
Marker symbol: Homer2
Marker name: homer scaffolding protein 2
Chromosome: 7
Strain of origin: (129X1/SvJ x 129S1/Sv)F1-Kitl⁺
Molecular note: A PGK-neomycin gene was inserted in inverse orientation into exon 3. mRNA and protein products could not be detected.