Conditional knockdown of Fgfr2 in mice using Cre-LoxP induced RNA interference

RNA interference (RNAi)-mediated gene knockdown is a potent approach for studying gene function. We have previously reported a plasmid-based, tamoxifen-inducible gene knockdown system in cultured cells using a combined RNAi and Cre-LoxP system. Here, we validate this system in mouse and show that it can be used to suppress the expression of an endogenous gene (Fgfr2) with high efficiency. We show that transgenic mice carrying the U6-ploxPneo-Fgfr2 RNAi construct are normal, displaying Fgfr2 transcripts equivalent to those of wild-type controls, indicating that the U6 promoter is inactive in vivo due to the presence of the neo in the promoter. After excision of the neo by crossing with transgenic mice that express Cre in the mouse germline, the U6 promoter is activated, leading to over 95% reduction of Fgfr2 transcripts, and consequently, embryonic lethality. On the other hand, activation of the U6 promoter using transgenic mice that express Cre in the progress zone of the limb results in live mice with malformation of digits of both the forelimbs and hindlimbs. This method provides a fast, yet efficient way to decipher gene functions in vivo in a tissue-specific manner.