[Construction of CyclinD (-/-)/Patched (+/-) double knockout mice]

Area of Science:

• Developmental Biology
• Genetics
• Molecular Biology

Background:

• The Hedgehog signaling pathway, regulated by Patched (Ptc), plays a crucial role in mammalian development.
• CyclinD (CycD) is a key regulator of the cell cycle and is implicated in the Retinoblastoma (Rb) pathway.
• Dysregulation of these pathways is associated with various developmental abnormalities and cancers.

Purpose of the Study:

• To generate a novel mouse model, CyclinD (CycD) knockout/Patched (Ptc) heterozygous (CycD-/-/Ptc+/-), for studying the interplay between Hedgehog and Rb signaling.
• To investigate the regulatory relationship between the Ptc gene and the CycD gene within this model.

Main Methods:

• Amphimixis was employed to cross female CycD heterozygous (CycD+/-) mice with male Ptc heterozygous (Ptc+/-) mice.
• Subsequent breeding of the resulting double heterozygous offspring (CycD+/-/Ptc+/-) was performed to obtain the desired CycD-/-/Ptc+/- double knockout mice.

Main Results:

• The breeding strategy successfully produced CycD-/-/Ptc+/- double knockout mice.
• Heterozygous double knockout mice (CycD+/-/Ptc+/-) and CycD knockout mice (CycD-/-/Ptc+/+) were also obtained.

Conclusions:

• Amphimixis is an effective method for constructing CycD-/-/Ptc+/- double knockout mice.
• This mouse model provides a valuable tool for elucidating the regulatory interactions between Ptc and CycD.
• The model will facilitate further research into the relationship between Hedgehog and Rb signaling pathways in mammals.