Production of a mouse line with a conditional Crim1 mutant allele

Genesis. 2012 Sep;50(9):711-6. doi: 10.1002/dvg.22032. Epub 2012 May 19.

Abstract

Crim1 is a developmentally expressed, transmembrane protein essential for normal embryonic development. We generated mice engineered to contain a Crim1 conditional null allele by flanking exons three and four of Crim1 with unidirectional LoxP sites. After crossing Crim1+/FLOX mice with a CMV-Cre line, a Crim1+/Δflox colony was established after germline transmission of the deleted allele. We then analyzed genomic DNA, mRNA transcripts, and protein expression from Crim1Δflox/Δflox null mice to confirm the nature of the genomic lesion. Crim1Δflox/Δflox mice displayed phenotypes similar to those previously described for a Crim1 gene-trap mutant, Crim1KST264/KST264, including perinatal lethality, digit syndactyly, eye, and kidney abnormalities, with varying penetrance and severity. The production of a conditional mutant allele represents a valuable resource for the study of the tissue-specific roles for Crim1, and for understanding the pleimorphic phenotypes associated with Crim1 mutation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Abnormalities, Multiple / embryology*
  • Abnormalities, Multiple / genetics
  • Alleles
  • Animals
  • Bone Morphogenetic Protein Receptors / genetics*
  • Bone Morphogenetic Protein Receptors / metabolism
  • Chimera
  • Crosses, Genetic
  • Embryonic Development / genetics*
  • Exons
  • Female
  • Gene Deletion
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental
  • Genetic Engineering / methods*
  • Genotype
  • Integrases
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Mutation
  • Organ Specificity
  • Organogenesis / genetics
  • Phenotype
  • Pregnancy
  • Recombination, Genetic

Substances

  • Crim1 protein, mouse
  • Bone Morphogenetic Protein Receptors
  • Cre recombinase
  • Integrases