Inducible Cre transgenic mouse strain for skeletal muscle-specific gene targeting

John J. McCarthy, Ratchakrit Srikuea, Tyler J. Kirby, Charlotte A. Peterson, Karyn A. Esser

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

89 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background: The use of the Cre/loxP system for gene targeting has been proven to be a powerful tool for understanding gene function. The purpose of this study was to create and characterize an inducible, skeletal muscle-specific Cre transgenic mouse strain.Methods: To achieve skeletal muscle-specific expression, the human α-skeletal actin promoter was used to drive expression of a chimeric Cre recombinase containing two mutated estrogen receptor ligand-binding domains.Results: Western blot analysis, PCR and β-galactosidase staining confirmed that Cre-mediated recombination was restricted to limb and craniofacial skeletal muscles only after tamoxifen administration.Conclusions: A transgenic mouse was created that allows inducible, gene targeting of floxed genes in adult skeletal muscle of different developmental origins. This new mouse will be of great utility to the skeletal muscle community.

Original languageEnglish
Article number8
JournalSkeletal Muscle
Volume2
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - May 7 2012

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
This work was supported by funds from the Center for Muscle Biology at the University of Kentucky and grants AR45617 and AR055246 (National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Disorders (NIAMS), National Institutes of Health (NIH)) (to KAE) and grants AR060701 (NIAMS) and AG034453 (National Institute on Aging, NIH) (to CAP and JJM).

Keywords

  • Cre recombinase
  • Inducible
  • Skeletal muscle-specific

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Orthopedics and Sports Medicine
  • Molecular Biology
  • Cell Biology

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