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Cre recombinase specificity defined by the tau locus.
Ella Korets-Smith1, Lothar Lindemann, Kerry Lee Tucker
1Samuel Lunenfeld Research Institute, 600 University Ave., Toronto, Ontario, M5G 1X5, Canada.
Genesis (New York, N.Y. : 2000)
|October 20, 2004
Summary
A new transgenic mouse line (tau::Cre) shows early tau expression, leading to widespread recombination. While not strictly neuron-specific, this tool can achieve pan-neuronal recombination in floxed alleles with careful application.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Biology
- Genetics
Background:
- The tau locus (Mapt) is crucial for neuronal development.
- Previous studies suggested neuron-specific expression of Tau during development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To generate and characterize a tau::Cre transgenic mouse line for conditional gene manipulation.
- To assess the expression pattern of Cre recombinase driven by the tau promoter.
Main Methods:
- Generation of tau::Cre transgenic mice.
- Intercrossing tau::Cre mice with Cre-activatable reporter lines.
- Analysis of Cre-mediated recombination patterns in offspring.
Main Results:
- Offspring exhibited recombination patterns ranging from nervous system-restricted to global, indicating early tau expression.
- The extent of neuron-specific recombination varied depending on the Cre reporter used.
- Data suggest tau::Cre drives recombination in a broader pattern than initially anticipated.
Conclusions:
- The tau::Cre mouse line demonstrates early and widespread expression of Tau.
- This line can be utilized for pan-neuronal recombination of floxed alleles, but requires cautious application due to variability.
- Further studies are needed to refine the use of tau::Cre for specific research applications.