cripto, EGF-CFC family member (Cripto formerly Tdgf1) encodes a small extracellular protein containing a divergent epidermal growth factor (EGF) motif and a conserved cysteine-rich (CFC) domain and is essential for conversion of proximal-distal asymmetry into an orthogonal anterior-posterior axis. Cripto is expressed in a proximal-distal gradient in the epiblast and later expressed in the primitive streak and embryonic mesoderm. Cripto LacZ knock-in/knock-out mice have the coding region deleted and a lacZ reporter inserted into the 5' untranslated region. Mice heterozygous for Cripto LacZ are viable and fertile. Heterozygous embryos exhibit &beta;-gal staining patterns similar to in situ hybridization patterns with a slight lag in developmental stage. In the homozygous state, the mutation is embryonic lethal. At 6.75 d.p.c., embryos lack a primitive streak and embryonic mesoderm, and exhibit a thickened layer of the visceral endoderm at the distal tip of the egg cylinder. By 7.5 and 8.5 d.p.c. mutants are deficient in embryonic mesoderm derivatives, have ectopic folds of ectodermal tissue located distally and lack an anterior-posterior axis. This strain may be useful for studying embryonic development.

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Cripto LacZ knock-in/knock-out mice have the coding region deleted and a lacZ reporter inserted into the 5' untranslated region of the cripto, EGF-CFC family member (Cripto formerly Tdgf1) gene. The deletion results in homozygous embryonic lethality. This strain may be useful for studying embryonic development and tumor growth.

This strain is hosted by NIH's MMRRC, which partners with JAX for the distribution of this and other strains. For additional information and to purchase, please visit the MMRRC site.