Calp mutant mice possess loxP sites flanking exons 4-9 of the Capns1 or calpain, small subunit 1 gene. Calpains are calcium-dependent cysteine proteinases involved in multiple cellular functions; in particular they have been implicated in neurodegenerative diseases. Heterozygous mice are viable and fertile, however, homozygous embryos exhibit lethality prior to E10.5. When bred to mice that express tissue-specific Cre recombinase, resulting offspring will have exons 4-9 deleted in the cre-expressing tissues. This allele causes in embryonic lethality in the homozygous state. 
For example, when bred to mice carrying a pan-neuronal CRE3 transgene, mice exhibit impaired performance in the Morris Water Maze (MWM). This strain may be useful for studying protein function in neuronal injury.

Exons 4 to 9 of the mouse Capns1 (calpain, small subunit 1) gene are flanked by loxP sites in this conditional mutant strain that is useful for studying protein function in neuronal injury.

This strain is hosted by NIH's MMRRC, which partners with JAX for the distribution of this and other strains. For additional information and to purchase, please visit the MMRRC site.