129S6.FVB(B6)-Tg(Drd1a-cre)AGsc/KndlJ

Stock number: 028298
Product name: D1-Cre
Research areas: Neurobiology Research, Research Tools

Description

Cre is expressed from the mouse Drd1a promoter in this YAC transgenic strain (D1-Cre). The spatio-temporal pattern of Cre expression in dopaminoceptive neurons is reported to closely recapitulate that of the endogenous Drd1a gene in embryonic and adult stages.
Of note, D1-Cre YAC transgenic mice are available on 129S-congenic background (Stock No. 028298) and C57BL/6J-congenic background (Stock No. 030329).

Detailed description

Alterations in dopamine signaling are responsible for several psychomotor disorders.

These YAC transgenic mice express Cre recombinase from the mouse Drd1a (dopamine receptor D1) promoter. The spatio-temporal pattern of Cre expression in dopaminoceptive neurons is reported to closely recapitulate that of the endogenous Drd1a gene in embryonic and adult stages, as assessed by immunohistological approaches.

Expression is reported to be prominent in the major projection areas of the dopaminergic system, including the striatum, nucleus accumbens, olfactory tubercles and prefrontal cortex. Clear but lower expression is seen in layer VI of the cortex. In hippocampus, CA2 and scattered cells in the dentate gyrus express Cre. Several thalamic nuclei and the ventromedian hypothalamic nucleus also express Cre. In retina, robust staining is observed in the inner nuclear layer.

Cre begins to be expressed, albeit at low levels, at E16 in the striosomal neurons of the embryonic striatum.

Development

A 140 kb YAC containing the entire Drd1a gene (as well as 40 kb of upstream and 100 kb of downstream sequences) was isolated from a mouse genomic YAC library. Nuclear-localized Cre (nlsCre) was introduced to the Drd1a gene by homologous recombination in yeast. The ATG of the nlsCre replaces the ATG of the Drd1a gene and the STOP codon of the nlsCre interrupts the Drd1a open reading frame after its last possible internal ATG. YAC DNA was microinjected into the pronucleus of FVB/N oocytes. The transgenic line was maintained by backcrossing to C57BL/6. This strain was backcrossed to 129S6SvEvTac for more than 10 generations by the donating laboratory. Founder line A carries three copies of the YAC transgene.

Allele

Symbol: Tg(Drd1a-cre)AGsc
Name: transgene insertion A, Gunther Schutz
MGI accession ID: MGI:3761818
Generation method: Transgenic
Attributes: Recombinase-expressing
Marker symbol: Tg(Drd1a-cre)AGsc
Marker name: transgene insertion A, Gunther Schutz
Chromosome: UN
Strain of origin: FVB/N
Expressed genes: cre,cre recombinase,bacteriophage P1
Site of expression: Cre is expressed in dopaminoceptive neurons.
Molecular note: A YAC containing the cre open reading frame with a nuclear localization signal and under the control of a Drd1a promoter was used to create a transgene. Expression was confirmed through crosses with three reporter lines and localized to the major dopaminoceptive regions. Line A contains 3 copies of the transgene.
General note: % transgenic mouse lines were create (A, R, S, T and U). Lines T and U do not contain complete transgenes while the other three lines exhibit virtually identical expression patterns. Line A was choosen as the representative line.