B6.Cg-Sall4^{tm1.1(EGFP/cre/ERT2)Ykawa}/J

Stock number: 039726
Product name: Sall4^GCE
Research areas: Neurobiology Research, Research Tools, Sensorineural Research

Description

Sall4^GCE knock-in/knock-out mice express a GFP-CreERT2 (GCE) cassette that replaces exon 1 of the mouse Sall4 (spalt like transcription factor 4) gene. This allele enables the immunodetection of a green fluorescent protein (GFP) reporter, as well as the tamoxifen-inducible expression of Cre recombinase in cells that normally express Sall4. These mice have been useful in characterizing the role of Sall4 in mammalian development.

Detailed description

Mutations in the SALL4 (spalt like transcription factor 4) gene, encoding a zinc finger transcription factor, cause human syndromes that involve defects in multiple organs. These include Duane-radial ray syndrome (also known as Okihiro syndrome) and Acro-renal-ocular syndrome. SALL4 protein plays an important role in the development and function of a variety of tissues and organs. Knock-out of the mouse Sall4 gene results in peri-implantation lethality.

Sall4^GCE knock-in/knock-out mice express a GFP-CreERT2 (GCE) cassette that replaces exon 1 of the mouse Sall4 gene. As anticipated, homozygous pups are not recovered from crosses of heterozygotes.

GFP signals, detectable through immunohistochemistry, are correlated with high levels of Sall4 mRNA expression by at least embryonic day 7.5 (E7.5). GFP signals are not detected in tissues with weaker Sall4 mRNA signals. Sall4^GCE labels spermatogonia and spermatogonial stem cells in the postnatal testis.

Crosses of Sall4^GCE mice with Gt(ROSA)26Sor^{tm14(CAG-tdTomato)Hze} (Stock No. 007914) and R26-LacZ (Gt(ROSA)26Sor^tm1Sor; Stock No. 003474) Cre reporter animals demonstrate the effectiveness of tamoxifen-inducible expression of Cre recombinase (CreERT2) in cells that normally express Sall4.

Development

Exon 1 of the mouse Sall4 gene (ENSMUSG00000027547) was replaced with an GFP-CreERT2-loxP-neomycin-loxP cassette via homologous recombination in (129S6/SvEvTac x C57BL/6)F1-derived G4 embryonic stem (ES) cells. Resultant chimeric mice were bred with albino C57BL/6 mice. Crosses with B6.Cg-Tg(Pgk1-flpo)10Sykr/J mice (Stock No. 011065) were carried out to excise the loxP-flanked neomycin cassette. This strain was then backcrossed to C57BL/6J for 15 generations by the donating laboratory. Upon arrival, sperm was cryopreserved. To establish a live colony, an aliquot of frozen sperm was used to fertilize C57BL/6J oocytes (Stock No. 000664).

Allele

Symbol: Sall4^{tm1.1(EGFP/cre/ERT2)Ykawa}
Name: targeted mutation 1.1, Yasuhiko Kawakami
MGI accession ID: MGI:6257344
Generation method: Targeted
Attributes: Recombinase-expressing; Reporter; Inducible; Null/Knockout
Synonyms: Sall4 GCE
Marker symbol: Sall4
Marker name: spalt like transcription factor 4
Marker synonyms: 5730441M18Rik; C330011P20Rik; DRRS; HSAL4; IVIC; Tex20; ZNF797
Chromosome: 2
Strain of origin: (129S6/SvEvTac x C57BL/6NCrl)F1
Molecular note: Sall4 exon1 was replaced with the GFP-Cre-ERT2 cassette followed by an frt flanked neo cassette via homologous recombination. Resulting mice were bred with Flpo mouse line to eliminate the neo cassette.