Acta2-GCaMP-ER2 transgenic mice express an endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-targeted green fluorescent calcium indicator variant GCaMP-ER2 under control of the Acta2 locus promoter/enhancer regions within the BAC transgene. Acta2-GCaMP-ER2 mice from founder line B25-6 exhibit high expression levels of GCaMP-ER2 in endoplasmic reticulum of smooth muscle cells (e.g., blood vessels, lung airways and gut) - consistent with endogenous Acta2. This Acta2-GCaMP-ER2 mouse line exhibits high fluorescence in the ER at both low and high calcium concentrations - making it useful as a fluorescent marker of smooth muscle cell ER, but not useful for detecting changes in calcium concentration. Additional details described further below. For Acta2-GCaMP-ER2 transgenic mice, the donating investigator reports that expression patterns appear to mimic the endogenous Acta2 expression (smooth muscle cells in blood vessels, lung airways and gut). Specifically, robust expression in the endoplasmic reticulum of smooth muscle cells in vessels of the heart (with the appropriate subcellular localization) was demonstrated via native fluorescence, as well as by immunohistochemistry staining. Expression in other tissues was not examined to date (July 2019). Although designed as a calcium indicator, the donating investigator reports that extensive analysis of this Acta2-GCaMP-ER2 mouse line revealed it to have high fluorescence at both low and high calcium concentrations - making it useful as a fluorescent marker of endoplasmic reticulum in smooth muscle cells, but not useful for detecting changes in calcium concentration. Additionally, it could be useful as a marker of sarcoplasmic reticulum in vascular muscle cells. Mice hemizygous for the Acta2-GCaMP-ER2 transgene are viable and fertile with normal breeding, and no reported gross phenotypic abnormalities. To date (July 2019), it has not been attempted to make this strain homozygous. This mouse model is available by way of a collaborative effort between Cornell/National Heart Lung Blood Resource for Optogenetic Mouse Signaling (<a href="http://chromus.vet.cornell.edu">CHROMus</a>) and The Jackson Laboratory.

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Acta2-GCaMP-ER2 transgenic mice exhibit high fluorescence in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) of smooth muscle cells (e.g., blood vessels, lung airways and gut) at both low and high calcium concentrations - making them useful as a fluorescent marker of smooth muscle cell ER, but not useful for detecting changes in calcium concentration.

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