The GFP-specific TCR mouse line Jedi (Just EGFP Death Inducing) produces T cells that recognize the immunodominant epitope of enhanced GFP (GFP_200-208) presented on H-2K^d. In every Jedi mouse, at least 50% of CD8⁺ T cells are specific for the GFP_200-208-H-2K^d pentamer and their phenotype is naïve (CD44^- CD62L⁺).
Specificity is high: Jedi CD8⁺ T-cells target and destroy GFP⁺ cells, but not YFP⁺ cells (despite that YFP has >95% homology to GFP but differs by one amino acid in the immunodominant epitope). Similarly, when co-cultured with dendritic cells expressing GFP or YFP, the Jedi CD8⁺ T cells proliferate in the presence of GFP but not YFP.

Jedi CD8⁺ T cells rapidly and stably eliminate GFP⁺ cell populations. Whether GFP mice are designed to express GFP on the cell surface or in the cell interior (cytoplasm, or bound to the inner side of membranes, etc.), all GFP expressing cells (with normal MHC class I function) present some GFP epitopes on their MHC class I molecules - that random occurrence of "self GFP_200-208 epitope" presentation on those cells is enough for Jedi T cells to identify them. Some examples are listed below.
When Jedi CD8⁺ T cells are injected into mice expressing GFP in pancreatic β-cells (MIP-EGFP; see Stock No. 006864), subsequent vaccination with GFP activates the transferred cells - resulting in rapid β-cell destruction and hyperglycemia. This is a model of inducible type I diabetes that also allows direct visualization of the islet-antigen. [Agudo et al. 2015 Nat Biotechnol 33:1287]
When Jedi CD8⁺ T cells are injected into mice engineered to express GFP in microglia (CX3CR1-EGFP; see Stock No. 005582) but RFP in peripheral hematopoietic cells, the resulting elimination of the GFP⁺ microglia occurred rapidly both with or without GFP vaccination/activation. This is a model for studying T cell trafficking and cytotoxic lymphocyte clearance. [Agudo et al. 2015 Nat Biotechnol 33:1287]
Jedi CD8⁺ T cells are able to stably deplete a population of renewing cells. For example, when injected into mice expressing GFP in Foxp3⁺ regulatory T cells (Foxp3-EGFP; similar to Stock Nos. 006772 or 018628), subsequent vaccination with GFP activates the transferred cells - resulting in rapid and stable depletion of Foxp3⁺GFP⁺ Tregs. Specifically, when the host is a female heterozygous for the X-linked Foxp3-EGFP allele, only ~half of the Foxp3⁺ Tregs are GFP⁺ due to random X inactivation. While those cells are stably depleted, the Foxp3⁺GFP^- cells remained and proliferated to compensate for the loss of the GFP⁺ Tregs. When the host is a male hemizygous for the X-linked Foxp3-EGFP allele, complete depletion of Foxp3⁺ Tregs resulted in immune dysregulation and illness. [Agudo et al. 2015 Nat Biotechnol 33:1287]
Jedi CD8⁺ T cells are able to eliminate rare cell populations in a non-lymphoid, non-inflamed organ. For example, when injected into mice expressing GFP in an extremely rare population of pacemaker heart cells (Hcn4-EGFP), subsequent vaccination with GFP activates the transferred cells - resulting in rapid and stable depletion of Hcn4⁺ cells. Unique from other depletion technologies, this allowed assessment of target cell depletion at single cell resolution via flow cytometry. [Agudo et al. 2015 Nat Biotechnol 33:1287]

When homozygous for the CD45.1 allele (Ptprc^a) on chromosome 1, heterozygous for the two Jedi TCR alleles (Tcrb^Ln1Bdb on chromosome 6 and Tcra^Ln1Bdb on chromosome 14) and homozygous for the H-2K^d allele (H2^d) on chromosome 17, the Jedi mice are viable and fertile. The donating investigator reports that when they breed heterozygous Jedi mice together they obtain the expected number of litters, but their genotyping protocol cannot properly distinguish heterozygous from homozygous to date (August 2018).

By November 2019, The Jackson Laboratory has genotyping assays in place for the two Jedi TCR alleles to distinguish heterozygous from homozygous. Additionally, the donating investigator suggests that mice may be immunocompromised when homozygous for the two Jedi TCR alleles.

In 2020, The Jackson Laboratory has generated mice homozygous for Ptprc^a, the two Jedi TCR alleles (Tcrb^Ln1Bdb and Tcra^Ln1Bdb) and H-2K^d. Between ~4-5 months of age, the quadruple homozygotes may appear hunched with labored breathing and the underside of their neck appears swollen - incidence ~50% of females and ~25% of males. As such, quadruple homozygous breeding units should be closely monitored and replaced by 4 months of age as needed.