B6.129S4(FVB)-Macroh2a2^tm1.1Peh/Mmjax

Stock number: 025763
Product name: macroH2A2 KO
Research areas: Cell Biology Research, Metabolism Research

Description

These H2afy2 or macroH2A2 knockout mice exhibit may be useful for studying the involvement of H2A histones in the regulation of gene expression.

Detailed description

H2afy2 or macroH2A2 (H2A histone family, member Y2) encodes an alternative H2A histone that includes a unique C-terminal non-histone domain. The macroH2A histones function in a subset of nucleosomes where they are involved in the regulation of gene expression. Homozygous mice are viable, fertile and exhibit no obvious phenotype. When combined with mice carrying H2afy^tm1Peh, double mutant mice on the C57BL/6 background breed poorly by either failing to reproduce or exhibiting high rates (29%) of perinatal lethality. On the 129S6 background, double KO mice exhibit abnormally large eyelids (macroblepharon), some eyelid inflammation, and darkened fur on the back (by 6 weeks of age).

This strain may be useful for studying the involvement of H2A histones in the regulation of gene expression.

Development

The H2afy2 targeting vector was designed to insert a loxP-flanked PGKneo cassette upstream of exon 2 and loxP site downstream of exon 2. Exon 2 includes the initiation codon and encodes the first 57 amino acids of the histone region. The construct was electroporated into (C57BL/6 x 129S4/SvJae)F1-derived v6.5 embryonic stem (ES) cells. The resulting chimeric animals were mated to C57BL/6 mice and progeny crossed to mice carrying Tg(EIIa-cre)C5379Lmgd (on an unspecified background) to remove exon 2 and the neo cassette. Offspring were backcrossed to C57BL/6 for at least 10 generations.

Upon arrival, mice were bred to C57BL/6J for at least 1 generation to establish the colony.

The donating investigator indicates that polymorphisms near the gene indicate that the allele is in the 129S4/SvJae background.

Allele

Symbol: Macroh2a2^tm1.1Peh
Name: targeted mutation 1.1, John R Pehrson
MGI accession ID: MGI:5565229
Generation method: Targeted
Attributes: Null/Knockout
Synonyms: macroH2A2 KO
Marker symbol: Macroh2a2
Marker name: macroH2A.2 histone
Marker synonyms: H2afy2; RGD1561371
Chromosome: 10
Strain of origin: (C57BL/6 x 129S4/SvJae)F1
Molecular note: The targeting vector was designed to insert a loxP-flanked PGKneo cassette upstream of exon 2 and loxP site downstream of exon 2. Mutant mice were bred with mice carrying Tg(EIIa-cre)C5379Lmgd to remove exon 2 and the neo cassette. Polymorphisms near the gene demonstrated that the targeted gene is in a genomic region derived from the 129S4/Jae parent of the embryo from which the ES cell line was generated.