STOCK Gja5^tm1Mchn/J

Stock number: 039730
Product name: Cx40^fl , Gja5^flox
Research areas: Research Tools

Description

Gja5^flox (Cx40^fl) conditional mutant mice carry a conditional mutant allele in which exon 2 of the mouse gap junction protein, alpha 5 (Gja5; Cx40) gene, expressing the open reading frame (ORF), is flanked by loxP sites. Cre recombinase-mediated excision of the floxed region results in a knock-out allele. These may be useful for studying hypertension and atherosclerosis.

Detailed description

Mice with ubiquitous deletion of gap junction protein, alpha 5 (Gja5; Cx40) are reported to be hypertensive, a risk factor for atherosclerosis.

These Gja5^flox (Cx40^fl) conditional mutant mice carry a conditional mutant allele in which exon 2 of the mouse Gja5 gene, expressing the open reading frame (ORF), is flanked by loxP sites. Cre recombinase-mediated excision of the floxed region results in a knock-out allele.

Development

A HindIII-ScaI fragment spanning exon 2 of the mouse Gja5 (Cx40) gene was replaced with a loxP-neomycin-loxP-Gja5 exon2 (ORF)-loxP cassette in embryonic stem (ES) cells that were likely derived from 129P2/Ola mice. The loxP-neomycin-loxP cassette was excised from the targeted ES cells by transient in vitro expression of cre recombinase, leaving exon 2 flanked by loxP sites. Resultant male chimeric mice were crossed with C57BL/6 female mice, then the line was backcrossed to BALB/c for 2 generations. Subsequently, animals were backcrossed to C57BL/6 for at least 12 generations. Information on subsequent intercrosses with other mutant lines is limited. While there is potential for multiple genetic background contributions, the predominant contribution is believed to be C57BL/6-derived. Upon arrival at The Jackson Laboratory, sperm was cryopreserved from animals carrying only the Gja5^flox allele. To establish a live colony, an aliquot of frozen sperm was used to fertilize C57BL/6J oocytes (Stock No. 000664).

Allele

Symbol: Gja5^tm1Mchn
Name: targeted mutation 1, Marc Chanson
MGI accession ID: MGI:4818408
Generation method: Targeted
Attributes: Conditional ready (e.g. floxed); No functional change
Synonyms: Cx40^fl; Gja5^flox
Marker symbol: Gja5
Marker name: gap junction protein, alpha 5
Marker synonyms: ATFB11; connexin 40; CX40; Cxni; Gja-5
Chromosome: 3
Strain of origin: Not Specified
Molecular note: A floxed neo cassette was inserted upstream of exon 2, and a loxP site was inserted downstream of exon 2. The loxP-neomycin-loxP cassette was excised from the targeted ES cells by transient in vitro expression of cre recombinase, leaving exon 2 flanked by loxP sites.