A hygromycin cassette replaces replace the ATG start codon, the zinc finger motif, and part of the helix-turn-helix motif of the Bmi1 polycomb ring finger oncogene (<i>Bmi1</i>) gene, abolishing gene function.  BMI1 is a transcriptional regulator that is involved in chromatin remodeling and modification of histones.  BMI1 is expressed in most tissues, but high expression is found in the thymus, heart, brain, and testes, and also in embryonic stem (ES) cells during embryonic development and in placenta. Heterozygous mice are viable and fertile. Half of homozygous mice die within 3 days of birth. The remaining survivors are significantly smaller than control littermates and die at an age varying from 3 to 20 weeks due to reoccurring illnesses such as pneumonia, anemia, and intestinal infections. Homozygotes do not express BMI1 in spleen, testis, liver, or brain. Homozygous mice exhibit a progressive decrease in the number of hematopoietic cells and an impaired proliferative response of these cells to mitogens.  They also display neurological abnormalities manifested by an ataxic gait and sporadic seizures.  Homozygous mice have abnormal skeletal transformation affecting the anteroposterior axis of the skeleton. Some of the skeletal transformations are also present in heterozygous mice.

<i>Bmi1</i> KO mice may be useful for studying morphogenesis and hematopoiesis during embryonic development.

Typically mice are recovered in 12-16 weeks. Contact Customer Service to place an order or for more information.

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FVB.129P2-Bmi1<tm1Brn>/MvlJ Frozen Embryo