Bmp7-CreERT2 KI/KO mice have a creERT2 fusion gene (a Cre recombinase fused to a human estrogen receptor ligand binding domain) replacing exon 1, including the translation start, of the bone morphogenetic protein 7 (Bmp7) gene. Bmp7-CreERT2 homozygous mice are also Bmp7-/- with respect to the BMP7 protein. BMP7 is a TGF-beta family protein involved in the development of the kidney, eye, limb, embryonic cloaca, urinary bladder, external genitalia, prostate gland, and other organs. Restricted to the cytoplasm, Cre-ERT2 can only gain access to the nuclear compartment after exposure to tamoxifen. Heterozygous mice are viable and fertile, while homozygous mice die within 4-11 days of age due to kidney failure. When these mice are bred with mice containing loxP-flanked sequence, tamoxifen-inducible, Cre-mediated recombination will result in deletion of the floxed sequences in the Cre-expressing cells of the offspring. When activated, cre expression in these mice recapitulates the expression pattern of the endogenous Bmp7 gene in tissues such as mesonephric, urethral, intestinal, lung and periocular mesenchyme.
