A murine model for juvenile NCL: gene targeting of mouse Cln3

JNCL is a neurodegenerative disease of childhood caused by mutations in the CLN3 gene. A mouse model for JNCL was created by disrupting exons 1-6 of Cln3, resulting in a null allele. Cln3 null mice appear clinically normal at 5 months of age; however, like JNCL patients, they exhibit intracellular accumulation of autofluorescent material. A second approach will generate mice in which exons 7 and 8 of Cln3 are deleted, mimicking the common mutation in JNCL patients.