Dynamic expression of N‐myc in mouse embryonic development using an enhanced green fluorescent protein reporter gene in the N‐myc locus. (8th January 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ma, Ming; Zhao, Kai; Wu, Wenting; Sun, Ruilin; Fei, Jian
• Is Part Of: Development growth and differentiation. Volume 56:Number 2(2014)
• Page Start: 152
• Page End: 160
• Publication Date: 2014-01-08
• Subjects: Embryology -- Periodicals; Developmental biology -- Periodicals; Growth -- Periodicals; 574.3
• DOI: 10.1111/dgd.12115
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0012-1592

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" id="dgd12115-abs-0001"> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <p>N‐myc belongs to the Myc oncogene family and plays an essential role in mammalian embryonic development. The expression of N‐myc is dynamically regulated during embryonic development; however, its expression pattern has not been well characterized due to the lack of a suitable animal model. In this paper, a genetically modified mouse model was generated in which the enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) coding sequence was inserted into the <italic>N‐myc</italic> locus, so that endogenous <italic>N‐myc</italic> expression could be traced by the signal of EGFP. The EGFP signal in the transgenic mouse was confirmed to be consistent with the expression pattern of endogenous <italic>N‐myc</italic> by fluorescence microscopy and immunohistochemical staining. Furthermore, the spatial and temporal expression of EGFP was observed in the central and peripheral nervous system, heart, lung and kidney, given the known indispensable role of <italic>N‐myc</italic> in their formation. EGFP was also strongly detected in the liver, paranephros and the epithelium of the intestine. The EGFP signal can be used to trace <italic>N‐myc</italic> expression in this transgenic mouse model. <italic>N‐myc</italic> expression was observed in specific locations and cell lineages, and dynamically changed during embryonic development. The changing <italic>N‐myc</italic> expression pattern seen in mouse embryonic development and the animal model described in this paper provide important insights and a new tool to research <italic>N‐myc</italic> function.</p> </abstract>