FVB/N-Tg(Cryaa-cre,Tyr)39Mlr/J

Stock number: 036689
Product name: CPV2/Cre , MLR39-Cre
Research areas: Neurobiology Research, Research Tools

Description

MLR39 (CPV2/Cre) mice express Cre recombinase in the lens fiber cells of the eye starting at approximately embryonic day 12.5 (E12.5). Cre recombinase is also expressed in some retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells. A tyrosinase minigene leads to very faint pigmentation in the coat and retinal pigment epithelium of homozygotes.

Detailed description

MLR39 (CPV2/Cre) mice expresses Cre recombinase in the lens fiber cells of the eye starting at approximately embryonic day 12.5 (E12.5). Cre recombinase is also expressed in a mosaic pattern in some retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells at E11.5. Expression is absent from the lens epithelium. A tyrosinase minigene leads to very faint pigmentation in the coat and retinal pigment epithelium in homozygotes. Hemizygotes may appear even lighter/whiter in color. This line is a complement to MLR10 transgenic mice (Stock No. 035233). MLR10 mice express Cre recombinase in the entire lens (epithelium and fibers) whereas MLR39 is fiber cell-specific within the lens.

Development

A transgenic vector expressing Cre recombinase driven by the 366 bp mouse Cryaa1 promoter was co‐injected into FVB (Harlan) embryos with a tyrosinase (TyBS) minigene that carries a dominant marker inducing fur and eye pigmentation. An estimated 10-15 copies of the Cre transgene were integrated in the genome, as determined by qPCR. The integration site is unknown.

The 4.1 kb TyBS cDNA construct consists of 2.25 kb of upstream regulatory/promoter sequences of the tyrosinase (Tyr) gene derived from BALB/c mice followed by a Tyr cDNA from C57BL/6 mice. The sequence incorporates a cysteine at amino acid 103 (nucleotide 308 encodes a G) and glycine at amino acid 346 (nucleotide 956 encodes a C) (see Yokoyama, 1990, PMID: 2124349). The resultant homozygous mice are very light grey in color. Hemizygotes may appear even lighter/whiter in color.

Upon arrival at The Jackson Laboratory, sperm was cryopreserved. Cryorecovery/live colony development will involve FVB/NJ (Stock No. 001800).

Allele

Symbol: Tg(Cryaa-cre,Tyr)39Mlr
Name: transgene insertion 39, Mike Robinson
MGI accession ID: MGI:3811526
Generation method: Transgenic
Attributes: Recombinase-expressing
Synonyms: CPV2/Cre; MLR39-Cre
Marker symbol: Tg(Cryaa-cre,Tyr)39Mlr
Marker name: transgene insertion 39, Mike Robinson
Marker synonyms: CPV2/Cre; MLR39-Cre
Chromosome: UN
Strain of origin: FVB/N
Molecular note: A cre recombinase gene was driven by an alpha A crystallin promoter consisting of -282/+43 of the mouse Cryaa gene. Seven founder lines were generated using this construct, which in this line was coinjected with a tyrosinase minigene. Line 39 has expression of the transgene in lens fiber cells but not in the surrounding lens epithelium. Ectopic expression of the transgene was also detected in the retinal pigment epithelium and in the ciliary bodies of the eye.