FVB/N-Tg(Ddx4-cre/ERT2)1Dcas/J

Stock number: 024760
Product name: Vasa-Cre^ERT2
Research areas: Reproductive Biology Research, Research Tools

Description

These mice express Cre-ER^T2 under the direction of the Ddx4 promoter. They are useful for applications requiring tamoxifen-induced deletion of floxed sequences in the testis and ovary.

Detailed description

Vasa-Cre^ERT2 mice express Cre-ER^T2 directed by the DEAD (Asp-Glu-Ala-Asp) box polypeptide 4 (Ddx4) promoter. These mice express Cre-ER^T2 protein in the testis and ovary, no expression is seen in other somatic tissues. DXD4 is an RNA helicase involved in germ cell development. Restricted to the cytoplasm, Cre-ER^T2 can only gain access to the nuclear compartment after exposure to tamoxifen. Mice hemizygous for the Vasa-Cre^ERT2 transgene are viable and fertile. When these mice are bred with mice containing loxP-flanked sequence, tamoxifen-inducible, Cre-mediated recombination will result in deletion of the floxed sequences in the Cre-expressing cells of the offspring.

For example, when bred to B6.129S6(Cg)-Foxo3^tm1Rdp/J mice (Stock No. 024668), tamoxifen-inducible cre activation results in abnormal primordial ovarian follicle morphology and ovarian hypertrophy.

Development

A transgenic vector was generated including the DEAD (Asp-Glu-Ala-Asp) box polypeptide 4 (Ddx4) promoter driving expression of a creER^T2 fusion gene (a Cre recombinase fused to a human estrogen receptor ligand binding domain). This transgene was microinjected into fertilized FVB/N oocytes. One line with high expression in testis and ovary was backcrossed to FVB/N mice for at least 6 generations. Upon arrival at The Jackson Laboratory, mice were bred to FVB/NJ inbred mice (Stock No. 001800) for at least one generation.

Allele

Symbol: Tg(Ddx4-cre/ERT2)1Dcas
Name: transgene insertion 1, Diego H Castrillon
MGI accession ID: MGI:4882088
Generation method: Transgenic
Attributes: Recombinase-expressing; Inducible
Synonyms: Vasa-Cre; Vasa-Cre^ERT2
Marker symbol: Tg(Ddx4-cre/ERT2)1Dcas
Marker name: transgene insertion 1, Diego H Castrillon
Chromosome: UN
Strain of origin: FVB/N
Expressed genes: cre/ERT2,Cre recombinase and estrogen receptor 1 (human) fusion gene,
Molecular note: The transgene construct consists of the Ddx4 (Vasa) promoter driving the expression of a cre/ERT2 cassette. The purified construct was injected into FVB/N oocytes. Transgenic animals were produced with one line showing high expression in the testis and ovary, but not in any somatic tissues, was selected for further analysis.