Generation of a Gal4-dependent gene recombination and illuminating mouse

Cell labeling technologies, including the Cre/loxP system, are powerful tools in developmental biology. Although the conventional Cre/loxP system has been extensively used to label the expression of specific genes, it is less frequently used for labeling protein-protein interactions owing to technical difficulties. In the present study, we generated a new Gal4-dependent transgenic reporter mouse line that expressed Cre recombinase and a near-infrared fluorescent protein, miRFP670. To examine whether this newly generated transgenic mouse line is applicable in labeling of protein-protein interaction, we used a previously reported transgenic mouse lines that express Notch1 receptor with its intracellular domain replaced with a yeast transcription factor, Gal4. Upon the binding of this artificial Notch1 receptor and endogenous Notch1 ligands, Gal4 would be cleaved from the cell membrane to induce expression of Cre recombinase and miRFP670. Indeed, we observed miRFP670 signal in the mouse embryos (embryonic day 14.5). In addition, we examined whether our Cre recombinase was functional by using another transgenic mouse line that express dsRed after Cre-mediated recombination. We observed dsRed signal in small intestine epithelial cells where Notch1 signal was suggested to be involved in the crypt stem cell maintenance, suggesting that our Cre recombinase was functional. As our newly generated mouse line required only the functioning of Gal4, it could be useful for labeling several types of molecular activities in vivo.