D2.Cg-Tg(Thy1-YFP)HJrs/SjJ

Stock number: 024705
Product name: thy1-YFP-H
Research areas: Neurobiology Research, Research Tools

Description

These thy1-YFP-H transgenic mice express yellow fluorescent protein at high levels in motor and sensory neurons, as well as subsets of central neurons. Axons are brightly fluorescent all the way to the terminals. This line provides a strong and specific "Golgi-like" vital marker for several widely studied neuronal subsets, with minimal labeling of nearby axons.

Detailed description

These mice express spectral variants of GFP (yellow-YFP) at high levels in motor and sensory neurons, as well as subsets of central neurons. Axons are brightly fluorescent all the way to the terminals. No expression is detectable in nonneural cells. The transgenic insert used to make this strain is identical to that used in the construction of Stock No. 003709. The primary difference between these two strains is the specific neuron subsets which express YFP. In this strain, a few motor axons are labeled in muscle tissue, allowing determination of branching pattern and definition of which muscle fibers are innervated by a single motor axon. Approximately 10-30% of sensory neurons are labeled in dorsal root ganglia. Layer 5 pyramidal cells are selectively labeled in cerebral cortex. Pyramidal neurons are selectively labeled in the hippocampus. Approximately 10-30% of retinal ganglion cells are exclusively labeled in the retina. Many (but not all) mossy fibers are strongly labeled in cerebellar cortex, but no neurons are labeled in this area. In short, this line provides a strong and specific "Golgi-like" vital marker for several widely studied neuronal subsets, with minimal labeling of nearby axons. Fluorescence appears somewhat dim at birth but brightens in adult mice. Availability of multiple spectral variants is useful for double-labeling applications or breeding to other CFP/GFP lines.

This strain is on a genetic background different from that on which the allele was first characterized. It should be noted that the phenotype could vary from that originally described. We will modify the strain description if necessary as published results become available.

Development

A transgenic construct containing a YFP gene under the direction of regulatory elements derived from the mouse Thy1 gene was injected into fertilized B6CBAF1 mouse eggs. Regulatory elements are composed of a 6.5 kbp fragment obtained from the 5' portion of the Thy1 gene, extending from the promoter to the intron following exon 4. Exon 3 and its flanking introns are absent. The deleted sequences are required for expression in non-neural cells but not in neurons. The remainder of the sequence is required for neuronal expression. Founder animals were obtained and crossed with wildtype C57BL/6J mice. This strain was then backcrossed to DBA/2J for at least 22 generations by the donating lab.

Allele

Symbol: Tg(Thy1-YFP)HJrs
Name: transgene insertion H, Joshua R Sanes
MGI accession ID: MGI:3497947
Generation method: Transgenic
Attributes: Reporter
Marker symbol: Tg(Thy1-YFP)HJrs
Marker name: transgene insertion H, Joshua R Sanes
Chromosome: UN
Strain of origin: (C57BL/6J x CBA)F1
Expressed genes: YFP,Yellow Fluorescent Protein,jellyfish
Site of expression: Sensory neurons in dorsal root ganglia, and pyramidal cells in Layer 5 of the cerebral cortex and in the hippocampus express YFP, 10-30% of retinal ganglion cells are exclusively labeled in the retina, mossy fibers are strongly labeled in cerebellar cortex.
Molecular note: The transgene contains a YFP gene under the direction of regulatory elements derived from the mouse Thy1 gene. The regulatory elements are composed of a 6.5 kb fragment obtained from the 5' portion of the Thy1 gene, extending from the promoter to the intron following exon 4, but lacking exon 3 and its flanking introns. Nine lines were generated (12, 16, 21, A, C, D, F, G, and H).
General note: Transgenic mice express spectral variants of GFP (yellow-YFP) at high levels in motor and sensory neurons, as well as subsets of central neurons. Axons are brightly fluorescent all the way to the terminals. No expression is detectable in nonneural cells. In these mice a few motor axons are labeled in muscle tissue, allowing determination of branching pattern and definition of which muscle fibers are innervated by a single motor axon. Approximately 10-30% of sensory neurons are labeled in dorsal root ganglia. Layer 5 pyramidal cells are selectively labeled in cerebral cortex. Pyramidal neurons are selectively labeled in the hippocampus. Approximately 10-30% of retinal ganglion cells are exclusively labeled in the retina. Many (but not all) mossy fibers are strongly labeled in cerebellar cortex, but no neurons are labeled in this area. In short, this line provides a strong and specific "Golgi-like" vital marker for several widely studied neuronal subsets, with minimal labeling of nearby axons. Fluorescence appears somewhat dim at birth but brightens in adult mice.