B6.129P2-Wls^{Gt(RRJ545)Byg}/WhsuJ

Stock number: 024775
Research areas: Cell Biology Research, Developmental Biology Research, Research Tools

Description

This Wls, Gpr177^lacZ, knockout gene trap strain is useful in studies of anterior-posterior body axis development, and the Wnt signaling pathway.

Detailed description

The Wls gene encodes a chaperon protein with a role in regulation of Wnt protein sorting and secretion, anterior-posterior body axis development, proper formation of the skin, skeletal development and disease, tooth morphogenesis, craniofacial development and deformity, mammary gland morphogenesis and Wnt-induced tumorigenesis. These mice carry a gene trap mutation in which the beta-geo reporter has been inserted into intron 9. Mice that are heterozygous for the mutation are viable and fertile. Homozygous mice are not viable, and fail to develop past embryonic day 10.5. Immunohistochemical staining and immunoblot analysis do not detect the gene protein product in homozygous E7.5 embryos. Homozygous embryos, E6.5 to E8.5 in age, exhibit impaired embryogenesis, with only 2 layers of tissue, ectoderm and endoderm, but lacking mesoderm, as well as impaired anterior-posterior body axis development. Wnt signaling is also disrupted in mutant animals. During backcrossing, the Y chromosome may not have been fixed to the C57BL/6J genetic background.

Development

The pGT0Lxf gene trap vector containing the beta-geo reporter (beta-galactosidase/neomycin-resistance fusion gene) was inserted into intron 9. The construct was electroporated into unspecified 129P2/OlaHsd derived embryonic stem (ES) cells. Correctly targeted RRJ545 ES cells were injected into recipient blastocysts. The resulting chimeric animals were bred to C57BL/6 mice. The mice were then backcrossed to C57BL/6 for more than 10 generations. During backcrossing, the Y chromosome may not have been fixed to the C57BL/6J genetic background. Upon arrival at The Jackson Laboratory, the mice were crossed to C57BL/6J (Stock No. 000664) at least once to establish the colony.

Allele

Symbol: Wls^{Gt(RRJ545)Byg}
Name: gene trap RRJ545, BayGenomics
MGI accession ID: MGI:4129920
Generation method: Gene trapped
Attributes: Reporter; Null/Knockout
Synonyms: Gpr177^lacZ; Wls^LacZ
Marker symbol: Wls
Marker name: wntless WNT ligand secretion mediator
Chromosome: 3
Strain of origin: 129P2/OlaHsd
Site of expression: LacZ replaces replaces the abolished endogenous Lrsam1 gene expression in the motor neurons of the ventral horn, cell bodies of peripheral sensory neurons in the dorsal root ganglia (DRG) and to a lessor extent in the brain stem.
Molecular note: The beta-geo containing gene trap vector inserted between exons 9 and 10. The absence of protein expression was confirmed by immunostaining of E7.5 embryos.