B6.Cg-Zbtb46^{tm3.1(cre)Mnz}/J

Stock number: 028538
Product name: zDC-Cre
Research areas: Research Tools

Description

These zDC-Cre knock-in mice express cre recombinase from the Zbtb46 promoter, enabling excision of loxP-flanked sequences in classical dendritic cells (cDCs).

Detailed description

Zbtb46 (zinc finger and BTB domain containing 46; also known as zDC or Btbd4) is a classical dendritic cell (cDC)-restricted zinc finger transcription factor that is not expressed by other immune cell populations, including plasmacytoid dendritic cells, monocytes, or macrophages. It acts primarily as a negative regulator of cDC gene expression.

These zDC-Cre mice express IRES-Cre from the 3' UTR of the Zbtb46 (zinc finger and BTB domain containing 46) gene. Expression in classical dendritic cells expressing Zbtb46 has been demonstrated through crosses with floxed stop Gt(ROSA)26Sor-YFP reporter mice.

Anecdotal information indicates that female zDC-Cre mice may be more efficient at cre recombinase-mediated excision of loxP-flanked sequences than male zDC-Cre mice. In one study, approximately 95% of offspring derived from crosses of female zDC-Cre mice with floxed allele males carried germline deletions. In contrast, only 5% of the offspring from male zDC-Cre mice carried germline deletions (unpublished; February, 2021).

Development

An FRT-flanked neomycin resistance cassette and an IRES-Cre element were introduced to exon 5, immediately after the stop codon. The mutation was created via homologous recombination in albino B6(Cg)-Tyr^c-2J-derived CY2.4 ES cells. Resultant male chimeric animals were crossed to albino ACTB-Flp recombinase-expressing mice on a C57BL/6 background to excise the neomycin selection cassette. Albino animals carrying the mutation were then crossed to black C57BL/6J mice. The Tyr^c-2J (albino) allele may still be retained by some of the animals.

Allele

Symbol: Zbtb46^{tm3.1(cre)Mnz}
Name: targeted mutation 3.1, Michel C Nussenzweig
MGI accession ID: MGI:5749231
Generation method: Targeted
Attributes: Recombinase-expressing
Marker symbol: Zbtb46
Marker name: zinc finger and BTB domain containing 46
Chromosome: 2
Strain of origin: B6(Cg)-Tyr^c-2J
Expressed genes: cre,cre recombinase,bacteriophage P1
Site of expression: Classical dendritic cells.
Molecular note: An FRT-flanked neomycin resistance cassette and an IRES-Cre element were introduced to exon 5, immediately after the stop codon. Flp-mediated recombination removed the FRT-flanked neo cassette.