Generation and characterization of ScxCre transgenic mice. Issue 4 (13th March 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Sugimoto, Yuki; Takimoto, Aki; Hiraki, Yuji; Shukunami, Chisa
• Is Part Of: Genesis. Volume 51:Issue 4(2013:Apr.)
• Page Start: 275
• Page End: 283
• Publication Date: 2013-03-13
• Subjects: Developmental genetics -- Periodicals; Genetics -- Periodicals; Developmental biology -- Periodicals; Embryology -- Periodicals; Genetic regulation -- Periodicals; 576.5
• DOI: 10.1002/dvg.22372
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1526-954X

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main"> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <sec id="dvg22372-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <p>Scleraxis (Scx) is a basic helix‐loop‐helix transcription factor that is a marker for the tendon/ligament cell lineage. The ∼11 kb genomic region from the mouse <italic>Scx</italic> gene locus faithfully recapitulates the endogenous <italic>Scx</italic> expression pattern in <italic>ScxGFP</italic> transgenic (Tg) mice. We have established two Tg mouse lines expressing <italic>Cre‐recombinase</italic> (<italic>Cre</italic>) using this regulatory region (<italic>ScxCre‐L</italic> and <italic>ScxCre‐H</italic>). The specificity and efficiency of Cre recombination in these Tg lines are evaluated by crossing with <italic>Rosa‐CAG‐LSL‐tdTomato</italic> (<italic>Ai14</italic>) or <italic>ROSA26R</italic> (<italic>R26R</italic>) reporter mice. The recombination in <italic>ScxCre‐H;Ai14</italic> mice is efficiently achieved in the endogenous <italic>Scx</italic> expression domains including the branchial arches, the syndetome, and the lateral plate mesoderm. Further analysis of <italic>ScxCre‐H;</italic><italic>Ai14;</italic><italic>ScxGFP</italic> embryos reveal that expression of the <italic>ScxGFP</italic> transgene largely overlaps with Cre activity detected by <italic>tdTomato</italic> at embryonic day 12.5 (E12.5). In <italic>ScxCre-L;R26R or ScxCre-H;R26R</italic> neonates, Cre activity is detected in tendons, ligaments, intervertebral discs, joints, and cartilage around the chondro‐tendinous/ligamentous junction, the prospective enthesis. The present results suggest that <italic>ScxCre</italic> Tg lines are useful for targeting the gene specifically in the <italic>Scx</italic>‐expressing domains. genesis 51:275–283. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.</p> </sec> </abstract>