PUBLICATION

Mef2c-F10N enhancer driven β-galactosidase (LacZ) and Cre recombinase mice facilitate analyses of gene function and lineage fate in neural crest cells

Authors
Aoto, K., Sandell, L.L., Butler Tjaden, N.E., Yuen, K.C., Watt, K.E., Black, B.L., Durnin, M., Trainor, P.A.
ID
ZDB-PUB-170214-204
Date
2015
Source
Developmental Biology   402: 3-16 (Journal)
Registered Authors
Black, Brian
Keywords
Cre recombinase, Mef2C enhancer (Mef2c-F10N), Neural crest cell, β-galactosidase reporter (LacZ)
MeSH Terms
  • Animals
  • Cell Differentiation
  • Cell Lineage
  • Cell Movement
  • Chickens
  • Enhancer Elements, Genetic*
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental
  • Genotype
  • Humans
  • Integrases/genetics*
  • Integrases/metabolism
  • Lac Operon*
  • Melanocytes/cytology
  • Mesoderm/metabolism
  • Mice
  • Mice, Transgenic*
  • Neural Crest/cytology*
  • Neural Crest/metabolism
  • Neurons/metabolism
  • Rabbits
  • Rats
  • Xenopus
  • Zebrafish
PubMed
25794678 Full text @ Dev. Biol.
Abstract
Neural crest cells (NCC) comprise a multipotent, migratory stem cell and progenitor population that gives rise to numerous cell and tissue types within a developing embryo, including craniofacial bone and cartilage, neurons and glia of the peripheral nervous system, and melanocytes within the skin. Here we describe two novel stable transgenic mouse lines suitable for lineage tracing and analysis of gene function in NCC. Firstly, using the F10N enhancer of the Mef2c gene (Mef2c-F10N) linked to LacZ, we generated transgenic mice (Mef2c-F10N-LacZ) that express LacZ in the majority, if not all migrating NCC that delaminate from the neural tube. Mef2c-F10N-LacZ then continues to be expressed primarily in neurogenic, gliogenic and melanocytic NCC and their derivatives, but not in ectomesenchymal derivatives. Secondly, we used the same Mef2c-F10N enhancer together with Cre recombinase to generate transgenic mice (Mef2c-F10N-Cre) that can be used to indelibly label, or alter gene function in, migrating NCC and their derivatives. At early stages of development, Mef2c-F10N-LacZ and Mef2c-F10N-Cre label NCC in a pattern similar to Wnt1-Cre mice, with the exception that Mef2c-F10N-LacZ and Mef2c-F10N-Cre specifically label NCC that have delaminated from the neural plate, while premigratory NCC are not labeled. Thus, our Mef2c-F10N-LacZ and Mef2c-F10N-Cre transgenic mice provide new resources for tracing migratory NCC and analyzing gene function in migrating and differentiating NCC independently of NCC formation.
Genes / Markers
Figures
Expression
Phenotype
Mutations / Transgenics
Human Disease / Model
Sequence Targeting Reagents
Fish
Antibodies
Orthology
Engineered Foreign Genes
Mapping