Quantifying in vivo somatic mutations using transgenic mouse model systems

This chapter describes the use of the bacteriophage cII positive selection somatic mutational assay with the Muta™Mouse transgenic model system. The assay is similar to others involving a transgenic target, including the cII and lacI assays in the Big Blue(®) Mouse, lacZ in the MutaMouse, and the gpt delta assay. Briefly, high-molecular-weight DNA is purified from the tissue of interest and used as substrate during in vitro packaging reactions, where the λ transgenes are excised from the genome and assembled into viable phage. Phage containing the mutational targets is then adsorbed into an appropriate bacterial host, and mutations sustained in vivo are detected and quantified by either standard recombinant screening or selection assays. Mutant frequencies are reported as the ratio of mutant phage to total phage units analyzed. The λ-based transgenic mouse assays are used to study and characterize in vivo mutagenesis as well as for mutagenicity assessment of chemicals and other agents. These models permit the enumeration of mutations sustained in virtually any tissue of the mouse and are both sensitive and robust. Application of the assays is simple, not requiring resources beyond those commonly found in most academic laboratories.