D2.Cg-Edil3^{Tg(Sox2-cre)1Amc}/SjJ

Stock number: 026859
Research areas: Research Tools

Description

These Sox2Cre transgenic mice express Cre recombinase under the control of the mouse Sox2 (SRY-box containing gene 2) promoter, and may be useful for generating epiblast-derived specific conditional mutations.

Detailed description

These transgenic mice express Cre recombinase under the control of the mouse SRY-box containing gene 2 promoter. The transgene integrated into an intron of Edil3 (EGF-like repeats and discoidin I-like domains 3). The insertion results in a functional knock-out of Edil3 in homozygous mice. Mice hemizygous for the Sox2Cre transgene are viable, fertile, normal in size and do not display any gross physical or behavioral abnormalities. These transgenic mice express Cre recombinase under the control of the mouse SRY-box containing gene 2 promoter. When these transgenic mice are bred with mice containing loxP-flanked sequences, Cre-mediated recombination will result in deletion of the floxed sequences in Sox2-expressing tissues in the offspring. Specifically, Cre recombinase activity is detected in the epiblast cells at embryonic day 6.5, with little or no activity in other cells at gastrulation. Some activity is also detected in extra embryonic derivatives of the epiblast, the yolk sac mesoderm and amnion. No Cre recombinase activity is detected in primitive endoderm derived tissues, visceral endoderm. The phenotype of homozygous mice has not been characterized to date (April 2011). These Sox2Cre transgenic may be useful for generating epiblast-derived specific conditional mutations. Transgene expression is active in the female germline. Offspring arising from a hemizygous transgenic female will exhibit Cre recombinase activity, regardless of genotype. This maternal inheritance effect, due to female germline expression of the transgene, can provide a rapid and efficient breeding mechanism for generating null animals.

In an attempt to offer alleles on well-characterized or multiple genetic backgrounds, alleles are frequently moved to a genetic background different from that on which an 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

The Sox2Cre transgene was designed with 12.5 kb of upstream regulatory sequence from the mouse Sox2 locus (SRY-box containing gene 2), a chicken β-actin intron, a Cre recombinase gene, and a rabbit β-globin poly(A) sequence. This transgene was introduced into B6CBAF1 donor eggs. The transgene integrated into an intron of Edil3 (EGF-like repeats and discoidin I-like domains 3). The resulting founder animals were initially crossed to C57BL/6 mice, and then crossed to outbred Swiss Webster mice. The mice were then backcrossed to C57BL/6 for 11 generations (see SNP notes below), and then sent to The Jackson Laboratory Repository.

A 32 SNP (single nucleotide polymorphism) panel analysis, with 27 markers covering all 19 chromosomes and the X chromosome, as well as 5 markers that distinguish between the C57BL/6J and C57BL/6N substrains, was performed on the rederived living colony at The Jackson Laboratory Repository. While the 27 markers throughout the genome suggested a C57BL/6 genetic background, 1 of 5 markers that determine C57BL/6J from C57BL/6N were found to be segregating. These data suggest the mice sent to The Jackson Laboratory Repository were on a C57BL/6N genetic background.

In this line, animals from Stock No. 008454 were backcrossed to DBA/2J for at least 10 generations by the donating laboratory.

Allele

Symbol: Edil3^{Tg(Sox2-cre)1Amc}
Name: transgene insertion 1, Andrew P McMahon
MGI accession ID: MGI:2656539
Generation method: Transgenic
Attributes: Recombinase-expressing; Null/Knockout
Marker symbol: Edil3
Marker name: EGF-like repeats and discoidin I-like domains 3
Chromosome: 13
Strain of origin: (C57BL/6 x CBA)F1
Expressed genes: cre,cre recombinase,bacteriophage P1
Site of expression: epiblast cells at embryonic day 6.5, with little or no activity in other cells at gastrulation; some activity is also detected in extra embryonic derivatives of the epi-blast, the yolk sac mesoderm and amnion; no activity is detected in primitive endoderm derived tissues, visceral endoderm
Molecular note: This transgene expresses Cre recombinase under the control of a mouse Sox2 promoter contained in 12.5 kb of upstream DNA. Expression of this transgene is sex-dependent, with increased efficiency when passed through the female germline. When the transgene is passed through the male germline, cre activity is observed in epiblast cells as early as E6.5 of only those embryos that inherit the transgene and no expression is detected in extraembryonic tissue. When the transgene is passed through the female germline, cre activity is observed throughout the embryo (including the yolk sac) in all early embryos regardless of whether or not they inherit the transgene. Line 1 inserted into an intron of the gene at 89311726-89311727 (Build GRCm38/mm10) resulting in a functional knockout of the gene. Founder line 1 has a copy number of 2-5.
General note: Hemizygous transgenic mice are viable, fertile, normal in size, and do not display any gross physical or behavioral abnormalities.