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ARS Home » Plains Area » Houston, Texas » Children's Nutrition Research Center » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #147037
Title: EMBRYONIC EXPRESSION OF AN NKX2-5/CRE GENE USING ROSA26 REPORTER MICE

Author
item MOSES, KELVIN - BAYLOR COLLEGE MED
item DEMAYO, FRANCO - BAYLOR COLLEGE MED
item BRAUN, RENEE - BAYLOR COLLEGE MED
item REECY, JAMES - BAYLOR COLLEGE MED
item Schwartz, Robert

Submitted to: Genesis
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/28/2001
Publication Date: 12/1/2001
Citation: Mose, K.A., DeMayo, F., Braun, R.M., Reecy, J.L., Schwartz, R.J. 2001. Embryonic expression of an Nkx2-5/Cre gene using ROSA26 reporter mice. Genesis. 31(4):176-180.

Interpretive Summary: We generated a mouse that can be used to make conditional deletions of other genes in the heart if that mouse contains the gene which has been already modified with a specific LoxP sequence. This deleter mouse is useful when certain gene knockouts cause early embryo lethality and in this way the specific function of a gene can be tested in a tissue, not in the whole embryo.

Technical Abstract: Nkx2-5, one of the earliest cardiac-specific markers in vertebrate embryos, was used as a genetic locus to knock in the Cre recombinase gene by homologous recombination. Offspring resulting from heterozygous Nkx2-5/Cre mice mated to ROSA26 (R26R) reporter mice provided a model system for following Nkx2-5 gene activity by beta-galactosidase (beta-gal) activity. Beta-gal activity was initially observed in the early cardiac crescent, cardiomyocytes of the looping heart tube, and in the epithelium of the first pharyngeal arch. In later stage embryos (10.5-13.5 days postcoitum, dpc), beta-gal activity was observed in the stomach and spleen, the dorsum of the tongue, and in the condensing primordium of the tooth. The Nkx2-5/Cre mouse model should provide a useful genetic resource to elucidate the role of loxP manipulated genetic targets in cardiogenesis and other developmental processes.