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Conditional Genetic Transsynaptic Tracing in the Embryonic Mouse Brain
Published on: December 22, 2014
Generation of a conditional CREB Ser133Ala knockin mouse
Andrew D Wingate1, Kirsty J Martin, Chris Hunter
1MRC Protein Phosphorylation Unit, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee, United Kingdom.
Summary
Researchers created a new mouse model to study the CREB protein. This model allows for conditional knockin of a Ser133Ala mutation, enabling in vivo investigation of CREB regulation beyond phosphorylation.
Area of Science:
- Molecular Biology
- Genetics
- Neuroscience
Background:
- Cyclic AMP response element-binding protein (CREB) phosphorylation at Ser133 is a key regulator of its transcriptional activity.
- Emerging evidence suggests other regulatory mechanisms influence CREB function.
- Studying these alternative regulatory pathways in vivo is crucial for a comprehensive understanding of CREB signaling.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a conditional mouse model for investigating CREB function independent of Ser133 phosphorylation.
- To enable in vivo analysis of CREB activity in adult mice.
- To facilitate the study of alternative CREB regulatory inputs.
Main Methods:
- Generation of a mouse CREB locus with a Ser133 to alanine knockin mutation.
- Utilized a minigene strategy for conditional knockin using Cre recombinase.
- Administered Cre recombinase to T cells and neurons to induce mutation expression.
Main Results:
- Successfully generated a conditional knockin mouse model for CREB Ser133Ala mutation.
- Observed expression of the mutated CREB protein prior to Cre induction.
- Confirmed exclusive detection of the mutated CREB protein in T cells and neurons post-Cre expression.
Conclusions:
- The developed mouse model allows for conditional and in vivo study of CREB function.
- This model facilitates the investigation of CREB regulatory mechanisms independent of Ser133 phosphorylation.
- Future research can utilize this model to explore alternative CREB signaling pathways in various cell types.
Related Concept Videos
In-vitro Mutagenesis
To learn more about the function of a gene, researchers can observe what happens when the gene is inactivated or “knocked out,” by creating genetically engineered knockout animals. Knockout mice have been particularly useful as models for human diseases such as cancer, Parkinson’s disease, and diabetes.
Conservative Site-specific Recombination and Phase Variation
Because the DNA segments are cut and reorganized in a direction-specific manner, site-specific recombination has emerged as an efficient genetic engineering technique. Flippase and Cyclization recombinases or Flp and Cre, respectively, are two members of the tyrosine recombinase family derived from bacteriophages, that are used to mediate site-specific DNA insertions, deletions, and targeted expression of proteins in mammalian cell lines.
The recognition sites for Cre recombinase called LoxP...
The recognition sites for Cre recombinase called LoxP...

