STOCK Tg(Aldh1l1-EGFP,-DTA)D8Rth/J

Stock number: 026033
Research areas: Neurobiology Research, Research Tools

Description

In this transgenic strain, Aldh1l1 promoter-active cells in the brain and spinal cord (the majority being astrocytes) express EGFP. Cre-mediated excision of the floxed EGFP/Stop enables DTA-mediated ablation of these cells.

Detailed description

These transgenic mice carry loxP-flanked EGFP/Stop and attenuated diptheria toxin A (DTA) chain under the regulatory control of the mouse Aldh1l1 promoter.

In the absence of cre recombinase, Aldh1l1 promoter-active cells in the brain and spinal cord (the majority being astrocytes) express EGFP. When these animals are bred with a cre mouse line, cre-mediated recombination results in tissue-specific deletion of loxP-site flanked EGFP sequence, and subsequently turns on DTA to ablate DTA-expressing cells. This strain is useful for deciphering development and functions of astrocyte subpopulations. Hemizygotes are viable, fertile, and normal in size and do not exhibit physical or behavioral abnormalities.

Intercrosses with Pax3-cre mice (see Stock No. 005549) result in perinatal lethality (10% survivors observed versus 25% expected). The dorsal spinal cord (corresponding to the Pax3 domain) of surviving postnatal day 25 (P25) animals showed atrophy, reduction in the total number of Aldh1l1-expressing cells, loss of neuropil, and congested neurons.

Development

A loxP-EGFP-4XpolyA-loxP-diptheria toxin A (DTA)-polyA cassette was introduced to mouse BAC RP24-510M10 (containing the entire Aldh1l1 gene) just upstream of the start codon. NotI-linearized BAC DNA was injected into B6D2F1 fertilized embryos. The donating laboratory maintained this strain through crosses with outbred Swiss Webster animals.

Allele

Symbol: Tg(Aldh1l1-EGFP,-DTA)D8Rth
Name: transgene insertion D8, David H Rowitch
MGI accession ID: MGI:5578327
Generation method: Transgenic
Attributes: Conditional ready (e.g. floxed); Reporter; Inserted expressed sequence
Marker symbol: Tg(Aldh1l1-EGFP,-DTA)D8Rth
Marker name: transgene insertion D8, David H Rowitch
Chromosome: UN
Strain of origin: (C57BL/6 x DBA/2)F1
Expressed genes: GFP,Green Fluorescent Protein,; Dta,Diphtheria toxin A chain,
Site of expression: EGFP is expressed in the brain and spinal cord.
Molecular note: A loxP-EGFP-4XpolyA-loxP-diptheria toxin A (DTA)-polyA cassette was introduced to mouse BAC RP24-510M10 (containing the entire Aldh1l1 gene) just upstream of the start codon.