C57BL/6-Tg(Krt13-cre)139Gaff/J

Stock number: 034382
Product name: K13^CRE
Research areas: Research Tools

Description

K13^CRE mice express Cre recombinase from the mouse Krt13 (keratin 13) promoter in superficial oral, esophageal and urogenital epithelium. Expression is not seen in skin.

Detailed description

Whereas Krt14 (keratin 14) and Krt5 (keratin 5) are expressed in the basal stem cells of oral keratinized and non-keratinized epithelia, Krt13 (keratin 13; also called K13) is expressed superficially in the differentiated suprabasal layers (BLs) of the oral epithelium, representing the first line of contact to oral microbes.

K13^CRE mice express Cre recombinase from the mouse Krt13 promoter in superficial oral, esophageal and urogenital epithelium, and not in skin. This pattern is far more restricted than that of Krt14.

When crossed with Rosa26^LacZ (floxed Stop-lacZ; Stock No. 003474) reporter mice, strong Cre expression and activity is detected in oral tissues such as the tongue and buccal mucosa, as well as the upper gastrointestinal tract, including stomach and the vaginal epithelium. Little or no lacZ is detected in skin, submandibular salivary gland or hematopoietic organs such as spleen and cervical lymph nodes.

Of note: An investigator reported that male K13CRE mice express Cre recombinase in sperm during spermatogenesis. The female germ cells do not express Cre-recombinase. (Danaher et. al. DOI. 10.1002/dvg.70046, 2026 Genesis)

Development

The mouse Krt13 promoter derived from BAC RP23-10A2 constitutively drives expression of an NLS (nuclear localization signal)-Cre cassette in these transgenic mice. The primary reference for this strain (PMID 27923704) indicates a C57BL/6 genetic background was used to create this mutation. Re-derivations/cryorecoveries of this strain will likely involve C57BL/6J at The Jackson Laboratory.

Allele

Symbol: Tg(Krt13-cre)139Gaff
Name: transgene insertion 139, Sarah L Gaffen
MGI accession ID: MGI:6379001
Generation method: Transgenic
Attributes: Recombinase-expressing
Synonyms: K13^CRE
Marker symbol: Tg(Krt13-cre)139Gaff
Marker name: transgene insertion 139, Sarah L Gaffen
Chromosome: UN
Strain of origin: C57BL/6
Molecular note: The mouse Krt13 promoter derived from BAC RP23-10A2 constitutively drives expression of an NLS (nuclear localization signal)-cre cassette in these transgenic mice. Four PCR+ founders were identified, and tissues were evaluated. Line 139 where Cre expression most closely paralleled the known expression pattern of Krt13 was used for all experiment.