The developing brain homeobox 1 transcription factor, encoded by the Dbx1 gene, plays a role in the developing central nervous system and is important for specification of neuronal subgroups.
These mice possess loxP sites flanking exons 2, 3, and 4 of the targeted gene. The DNA-binding homeodomain is encoded by exons 3 and 4. Mice that are homozygous for this allele are viable and fertile. When these mutant mice are bred to mice that express Cre recombinase, resulting offspring will have exons 2, 3, and 4 deleted in the cre-expressing tissues. The allele carried by these mice contains NEO.
When bred to a strain with Cre recombinase expression in brain progenitor cells (see Stock No. 008661 for example), this mutant mouse strain may be useful in studies of interneuronal patterning development in the hypothalamus.
