| First Author | Doerflinger NH | Year | 2003 |
| Journal | Genesis | Volume | 35 |
| Issue | 1 | Pages | 63-72 |
| PubMed ID | 12481300 | Mgi Jnum | J:81627 |
| Mgi Id | MGI:2449735 | Doi | 10.1002/gene.10154 |
| Citation | Doerflinger NH, et al. (2003) Inducible site-specific recombination in myelinating cells. Genesis 35(1):63-72 |
| abstractText | Summary: To explore the function of genes expressed by myelinating cells we have developed a model system that allows for the inducible ablation of predetermined genes in oligodendrocytes and Schwann cells. The Cre/loxP recombination system provides the opportunity to generate tissue-specific somatic mutations in mice. We have used a fusion protein between the Cre recombinase and a mutated ligand-binding domain of the human estrogen receptor (CreER(T)) to obtain inducible, site-specific recombination. CreER(T) expression was placed under the transcriptional control of the regulatory sequences of the myelin proteolipid protein (PLP) gene, which is abundantly expressed in oligodendrocytes and to a lesser extent in Schwann cells. The CreER(T) fusion protein translocated to the nucleus and mediated the recombination of a LacZ reporter transgene in myelinating cells of PLP/CreER(T) mice injected with the synthetic steroid tamoxifen. In untreated animals CreER(T) remained cytoplasmic, and there was no evidence of recombination. The PLP/ CreER(T) animals should be very useful in elucidating and distinguishing a particular gene's function in the formation and maintenance of the myelin sheath and in analyzing mature oligodendrocyte function in pathological conditions. genesis 35:63-72, 2003. |
