Lineage-specific cell disruption in living mice by Cre-mediated expression of diphtheria toxin A chain

H Matsumura, H Hasuwa, N Inoue, M Ikawa… - … and biophysical research …, 2004 - Elsevier
H Matsumura, H Hasuwa, N Inoue, M Ikawa, M Okabe
Biochemical and biophysical research communications, 2004Elsevier
We have established a transgenic mouse line in which floxed neomycin resistant cassette
was inserted between the CAG promoter and EGFP. When these transgenic mice were
mated with Cre-expressing transgenic animals, the offspring obtained were fluorescent
green. We then established a transgenic mouse line in which EGFP in the above construct
was replaced by diphtheria toxin A chain (DT). When the latter transgenic mice were mated
with mice expressing Cre restricted to germ cells, we obtained healthy but sterile offspring …
We have established a transgenic mouse line in which floxed neomycin resistant cassette was inserted between the CAG promoter and EGFP. When these transgenic mice were mated with Cre-expressing transgenic animals, the offspring obtained were fluorescent green. We then established a transgenic mouse line in which EGFP in the above construct was replaced by diphtheria toxin A chain (DT). When the latter transgenic mice were mated with mice expressing Cre restricted to germ cells, we obtained healthy but sterile offspring due to a disruption of germ line cells by DT expression. We predict that this strategy will be useful for the construction of new animal models for human diseases, featuring a variety of missing cell lineages produced by disruption with DT.
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