B6N.129(Cg)-Pax6^tm1Pgr/J

Stock number: 027971
Product name: Pax6-LacZ
Research areas: Endocrine Deficiency Research, Neurobiology Research, Research Tools

Description

Pax6-LacZ KO mice contain a β-galactosidase gene that replaces the start codon and paired domain of the Pax6 (paired box 6) gene. Mice homozygous for the mutation die shortly after birth. This strain may be useful for lineage tracing of Pax6⁺ cells and for studying endocrine cell differentiation in early pancreatic development.

Detailed description

Pax6, a member of the Pax family, encodes a homeobox and paired domain-containing protein that functions as a transcription factor and is expressed in pancreatic endocrine cells as well as the eye, nose and central nervous system. Pax6-LacZ KO mice contain a β-galactosidase gene that replaces the start codon and paired domain of the Pax6 gene. β-galactosidase activity mimics endogenous Pax6 expression and is detected in live embryos. Mice homozygous for mutation die shortly after birth and exhibit a phenotype similar to small eye mutants (Pax6^Sey); pups lack eyes and the olfactory bulb. In addition, the islets of Langerhans are disorganized and the glucagon-producing α cell lineage is eliminated. This strain may be useful for lineage tracing of Pax6⁺ cells and for studying endocrine cell differentiation in early pancreatic development.

Development

A targeting vector was designed to replace the start codon and paired domain (exons 4-6) of the Pax6 (paired box 6) gene with a β-galactosidase gene. The construct was electroporated into (129X1/SvJ x 129S1/Sv)F1-derived R1 embryonic stem (ES) cells. Correctly targeted ES cells were aggregated with NMRI-derived morula. Chimeric mice were bred to NMRI mice and then progeny backcrossed to C57BL/6N mice in excess of 10 generations. Upon arrival at The Jackson Laboratory, mice were bred to C57BL/6NJ inbred mice for at least one generation to establish the colony.

Allele

Symbol: Pax6^tm1Pgr
Name: targeted mutation 1, Peter Gruss
MGI accession ID: MGI:1934347
Generation method: Targeted
Attributes: Reporter; Null/Knockout
Marker symbol: Pax6
Marker name: paired box 6
Chromosome: 2
Strain of origin: (129X1/SvJ x 129S1/Sv)F1-Kitl⁺
Expressed genes: lacZ,beta-galactosidase,E. coli
Site of expression: Beta-galactosidase is expressed in embryos in a pattern identical to Pax6.
Molecular note: The start codon in exon 4 and the entire paired domain of Pax6 was replaced with a beta-galactosidase gene followed by a neomycin cassette. Beta-galactosidase was expressed in embryos in a pattern identical to Pax6.