B6.Cg-Tg(Dcx-icre/ERT2)1Mash/J

Stock number: 040080
Product name: DCXCreER^T2
Research areas: Neurobiology Research, Research Tools

Description

DCXCreER^T2 mice express a tamoxifen-inducible codon-improved ERT2/icre/ERT2 fusion gene under the control of the mouse Dcx locus. This strain allows temporally controlled deletion of floxed genes in immature neurons.

Detailed description

DCXCreER^T2 mice express a tamoxifen-inducible codon-improved ERT2/icre/ERT2 fusion gene under the control of the mouse doublecortin (Dcx) locus (derived from a BAC). Dcx encodes a cytoplasmic protein expressed in neuronal precursor cells that direct neuronal migration by regulating the organization and stability of microtubules. Neuronal precursor cells are capable of plasticity as they express proteins, such as DCX, involved in neurite outgrowth and synapse formation.

When transgenic mice are bred with mice containing loxP-flanked sequences, tamoxifen-inducible iCre-mediated recombination will result in deletion of floxed sequences in immature neurons of the offspring. In this strain, DCX directs expression of ERT2/icre/ERT2 to immature neurons in the subventricular zone and the subgranular zone of the dentate gyrus, as well as the arcuate nucleus (ARC) of the hypothalamus. Hemizygous mice are viable and fertile with no reported phenotype abnormalities. The donating investigator did not attempt to make a homozygous colony; it is unknown if homozygotes are viable and fertile.

Development

A 184 kb bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC), RP23-319O15, containing the mouse doublecortin (Dcx) gene was modified so that the Dcx locus drives expression of a codon-improved cre recombinase gene flanked by two human estrogen receptor sequences (ERT2/icre/ERT2). The BAC contains 32 kb of genomic DNA upstream of the Dcx locus and 75 kb downstream. No other full-length gene is contained in the DNA segment. The transgene also contains an FRT site leftover from removal of an FRT-flanked kanamycin resistance cassette. The transgene was microinjected into B6D2F1 fertilized eggs. The donating investigator reports the resulting DCXCreER^T2 mice were backcrossed to C57BL/6NCrl for at least 8 generations (see SNP note below). Upon arrival, sperm was cryopreserved. To establish our live colony, an aliquot of frozen sperm was used to fertilize C57BL/6NJ oocytes (Stock No. 005304).

In 2025, a 48 SNP (single nucleotide polymorphism) panel analysis, with 43 markers covering all 19 chromosomes and the X chromosome, as well as 5 markers that distinguish between the C57BL/6J and C57BL/6N substrains, was performed on the males sent to The Jackson Laboratory Repository. One of the 43 markers throughout the genome was segregating with DBA on Chromosome 11. Also, 2 of the 5 markers that determine C57BL/6J from C57BL/6NCrl were found to be segregating. These data suggest the mice sent to The Jackson Laboratory Repository were on a mixed C57BL/6NCrl;C57BL/6J genetic background.

Allele

Symbol: Tg(Dcx-icre/ERT2)1Mash
Name: transgene insertion 1, Markus Schwaninger
MGI accession ID: MGI:6783980
Generation method: Transgenic
Attributes: Recombinase-expressing; Inducible
Synonyms: DCXCreER^T2
Marker symbol: Tg(Dcx-icre/ERT2)1Mash
Marker name: transgene insertion 1, Markus Schwaninger
Chromosome: UN
Strain of origin: B6D2F1
Molecular note: Using mouse BAC RP23-319O15 clone, a tamoxifen-inducible iCre cassette that was flanked on the 5' and 3' side withERT2 sequence and equipped with an artificial poly-A signal (ERT2-Cre-ERT2-pA) was inserted under control of the mouse Dcx gene.