High-efficiency CAG-FLPe deleter mice in C57BL/6J background

Area of Science:

• Genetics
• Molecular Biology
• Neuroscience

Background:

• Conditional knockout (KO) technology is increasingly vital for genetic research.
• Efficient FLP deleter mouse lines are in high demand for precise genetic modifications.
• Existing FLP deleters may not be optimized for specific genetic backgrounds like those used in behavioral studies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To generate and characterize novel FLP deleter transgenic mice on a C57BL/6J genetic background.
• To assess the recombination efficiency of these new FLP deleter lines for conditional gene targeting.
• To provide a valuable resource for researchers conducting behavioral studies with conditional KO mice.

Main Methods:

• Generation of CAG-FLPe transgenic (Tg) mouse lines.
• Crossing CAG-FLPe-Tg lines with mice carrying an FRT-PGK-neo-FRT cassette.
• Evaluation of recombination efficiency and patterns in offspring using established genetic assays.

Main Results:

• Four out of five generated CAG-FLPe lines demonstrated high recombination efficiency (91%-100%) in progeny.
• Mosaic recombination patterns were observed in a small fraction (0%-30%) of animals, varying by line.
• The generated FLP deleters are highly effective in removing FRT cassettes.

Conclusions:

• The novel CAG-FLPe transgenic mice on a C57BL/6J background are potent tools for FRT cassette deletion.
• These mice are well-suited for behavioral studies requiring conditional gene knockout strategies.
• The developed FLP deleter lines represent a significant advancement for genetic research and model generation.