B6N.Cg-Tg(Prrx1-cre)1Cjt/ErenJ

Stock number: 033173
Product name: Prrx1^Cre , Prx1-Cre , Prx1^cre , B6N.Prrx1^Cre , B6N.Prrx1-Cre
Research areas: Developmental Biology Research, Research Tools

Description

Prrx1^Cre (Prx1-Cre) transgenic mice have the Prrx1 promoter/enhancer directing Cre recombinase expression to early limb bud mesenchyme and a subset of craniofacial mesenchyme. This tool strain may be useful for generating tissue specific-targeted mutants for studying limb bud development and patterning.

Of note, The Jackson Laboratory Repository has Prrx1^Cre transgenic mice on a C57BL/6J genetic background (Stock No. 005584) and on a C57BL/6N genetic background (Stock No. 033173).

Detailed description

In an attempt to offer alleles on well-characterized or multiple genetic backgrounds, alleles are frequently moved to a genetic background different from that on which an allele was first characterized. The phenotype summarized below is for the parental line: Prrx1^Cre transgenic mice on a C57BL/6J genetic background (Stock No. 005584). It should be noted that the phenotype of this C57BL/6NJ-congenic Prrx1^Cre transgenic line (Stock No. 033173 ; B6N.Prrx1^Cre) could vary from that of the parental line from which it was derived. The phenotype below describes the parental line (Stock No. 005584).

Mice homozygous for the transgenic insert are viable, fertile, normal in size and do not display any gross physical or behavioral abnormalities. These transgenic mice express Cre recombinase under the control of the paired related homeobox 1 promoter. Cre recombinase expression closely patterns endogenous gene expression and is detectable by embryonic day 9.5. Cre recombinase activity is expected in early limb bud mesenchyme and in a subset of craniofacial mesenchyme. Limited Cre expression may also be observed in female germline (oocytes) and male reproductive tissue (Leydig cells). If the recombinase activity pattern of this allele is further characterized by the Genetic Resource Science group at The Jackson Laboratory, such findings will be reported on the Mouse Genome Informatics (MGI) Allele Detail entry (Tg(Prrx1-cre)1Cjt). The source data may also be examined (view Cre expression characterization). This same information would also be found searching the MGI Recombinase Activity database.

When Prrx1^Cre transgenic mice are crossed with a strain containing a loxP site-flanked sequence of interest, Cre-mediated recombination results in deletion of the floxed sequence in early limb bud mesenchyme. This strain represents an effective tool for generating tissue specific-targeted mutants useful in studies of limb bud development and patterning.

Development

The Prrx1^Cre transgene was designed with the paired related homeobox 1 promoter upstream of the Cre recombinase coding sequence. This construct was microinjected into B6SJLF2 donor oocytes. Founder animals were identified, and this line was then backcrossed 12 generations to C57BL/6J inbred mice prior to sending to the Jackson Laboratory in 2005 as Stock No. 005584.
In 2012, Dr. Elizabeth Rendina-Ruedy (while at Maine Medical Center) purchased some Stock No. 005584 animals (~N15 onto C57BL/6J) and then backcrossed them ten generations to C57BL/6NJ inbred mice (from Stock No. 005304). The resulting C57BL/6NJ-congenic strain is called B6N.Prrx1^Cre. In 2019, B6N.Prrx1^Cre males (black coat color) were sent to The Jackson Laboratory Repository as Stock No. 033173. Upon arrival, males were used to cryopreserve sperm. To establish the living mouse colony, an aliquot of the frozen sperm was used to fertilize oocytes from C57BL/6NJ inbred mice (Stock No. 005304).

Of note, Dr. Rendina-Ruedy's lab reports that, at least once during backcrossing, a hemizygous female was bred to a C57BL/6NJ inbred male (thus the Y chromosome of the B6N.Prrx1^Cre strain is of C57BL/6NJ origin).

This transgene is integrated on mouse Chromosome 7 (PMID:31253842).

Allele

Symbol: Tg(Prrx1-cre)1Cjt
Name: transgene insertion 1, Clifford J Tabin
MGI accession ID: MGI:2450929
Generation method: Transgenic
Attributes: Recombinase-expressing
Synonyms: Prx-1 Cre; Prx1^cre; Prx1Cre; Prx1-cre; Prx-cre; Tg[Prx1-cre]1Cjt
Marker symbol: Tg(Prrx1-cre)1Cjt
Marker name: transgene insertion 1, Clifford J Tabin
Marker synonyms: Prx-1 Cre; Prx1^cre; Prx1Cre; Prx1-cre; Prx-cre
Chromosome: 7
Strain of origin: (C57BL/6J x SJL/J)F2
Expressed genes: cre,cre recombinase,bacteriophage P1
Site of expression: early limb bud mesenchyme and in a subset of craniofacial mesenchyme, some female germline expression
Molecular note: This transgene expresses Cre recombinase under the control of a Prrx1 derived enhancer. This transgene is expressed in the early limb bud mesenchyme and in a subset of craniofacial mesenchyme. A germline Cre recombinase activity was observed in female, but not in male, as partially penetrant trait depending on the particular gene flanked by loxP sites.