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Generation of a reporter mouse line expressing Akt and EGFP upon Cre-mediated recombination

Lynda Elghazi1, Aaron J Weiss, Aaron P Gould

  • 1Division of Endocrinology, Department of Internal Medicine, Metabolism and Lipid Research, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, Missouri 63110-1010, USA.

Genesis (New York, N.Y. : 2000)
|April 30, 2008
PubMed

Insights

Researchers developed a novel mouse model for studying the serine-threonine kinase Akt signaling pathway. This model allows targeted activation of constitutively active Akt1 (caAkt) in specific tissues, aiding research into development and tissue plasticity.

Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Cell Signaling
  • Genetics

Background:

  • The serine-threonine kinase Akt is a crucial regulator of diverse biological processes.
  • Studying Akt signaling in specific tissues requires targeted in vivo activation strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To generate a versatile mouse model for conditional and tissue-specific activation of Akt signaling.
  • To enable lineage tracing and functional studies of Akt in various biological contexts.

Main Methods:

  • Development of a Cre-dependent mouse model incorporating a double reporter system (LacZ and EGFP).
  • Constitutively active Akt1 (caAkt) expression is induced upon Cre-mediated recombination.
  • Demonstration of caAkt and EGFP expression in pancreatic and nervous system tissues.

Main Results:

  • The generated mouse model successfully expresses LacZ in a broad range of tissues prior to Cre recombination.
  • Post-Cre recombination, the model exhibits caAkt and EGFP expression in specific pancreatic compartments and neural tissues.
  • The dual reporter system effectively visualizes Cre-mediated gene activation and lineage tracing.

Conclusions:

  • This novel mouse model serves as a critical tool for investigating the physiological roles of Akt signaling.
  • The lineage-tracing capability facilitates the study of Akt in developmental differentiation and mature tissue plasticity.
  • The model offers a powerful platform for dissecting Akt-dependent pathways in a spatially and temporally controlled manner.

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