Characterization of a novel transgenic mouse line expressing Cre recombinase under the control of the Cdx2 neural specific enhancer. Issue 11 (30th August 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Coutaud, Baptiste; Pilon, Nicolas
• Is Part Of: Genesis. Volume 51:Issue 11(2013:Nov.)
• Page Start: 777
• Page End: 784
• Publication Date: 2013-08-30
• Subjects: Developmental genetics -- Periodicals; Genetics -- Periodicals; Developmental biology -- Periodicals; Embryology -- Periodicals; Genetic regulation -- Periodicals; 576.5
• DOI: 10.1002/dvg.22421
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1526-954X

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main"> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <p>Several genetically modified mouse models have been generated in order to drive expression of the Cre recombinase in the neuroectoderm. However, none of them specifically targets the posterior neural plate during neurulation. To fill this gap, we have generated a new transgenic mouse line in which Cre expression is controlled by a neural specific enhancer (NSE) from the <italic>Caudal‐related homeobox 2</italic> (<italic>Cdx2</italic>) locus. Analyses of Cre activity via breeding with R26R‐YFP reporter mice have indicated that the <italic>Cdx2</italic>NSE‐Cre mouse line allows for recombination of LoxP sites in most cells of the posterior neural plate as soon as from the head fold stage. Detailed examination of double‐transgenic embryos has revealed that this novel Cre‐driver line allows targeting the entire posterior neural tube with an anterior limit in the caudal hindbrain. Of note, the <italic>Cdx2</italic>NSE regulatory sequences direct Cre expression along the whole dorso‐ventral axis (including pre‐migratory neural crest cells) and, accordingly, YFP fluorescence has been also observed in multiple non‐cranial neural crest derivatives of double‐transgenic embryos. Therefore, we believe that the <italic>Cdx2</italic>NSE‐Cre mouse line represents an important novel genetic tool for the study of early events occurring in the caudal neuroectoderm during the formation of both the central and the peripheral nervous systems. genesis 51:777–784. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.</p> </abstract>