Phenotypic analysis of gene-specific knockout (KO) mice has revolutionized our understanding of in vivo gene functions. As the use of mouse embryonic stem (ES) cells is inevitable for conventional gene targeting, the generation of knockout mice remains a very time-consuming and expensive process. To accelerate the large-scale production and phenotype analyses of KO mice, international efforts have organized global consortia such as the International Knockout Mouse Consortium (IKMC) and International Mouse Phenotype Consortium (IMPC), and they are persistently expanding the KO mouse catalogue that is publicly available for the researches studying specific genes of interests in vivo. However, new technologies, adopting zinc-finger nucleases (ZFNs) or Transcription Activator-Like Effector (TALE) Nucleases (TALENs) to edit the mouse genome, are now emerging as valuable and effective shortcuts alternative for the conventional gene targeting using ES cells. Here, we introduce the recent achievement of IKMC, and evaluate the significance of ZFN/TALEN technology in mouse genetics.
Pubmed ID: 23261053 RIS Download
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The CREATE consortium represents a core of major European and international mouse database holders and research groups involved in conditional mutagenesis, primarily to develop a strategy for the integration and dissemination of Cre driver strains for modelling aspects of complex human diseases in the mouse. Collectively the participants have amassed a significant number of these strains in their respective databases. Therefore one of the goals of CREATE is to provide a unified portal for worldwide access to these critical resources. The portal can either be searched through an advanced BioMart interface, by driver name, or by anatomical site of expression using Embryonic Mouse Anatomy Project (EMAP) and Mouse Anatomy (MA) ontology terms. Search results link back to the original source of the data for more detailed information and to IMSR to order mice if available. The ontology browser is particularly useful as it enables the CREATE consortium to identify cell and tissues that are not currently covered by existing lines. CREATE also aims to coordinate the production of suitable lines by the Cre generation projects described above. Through the CREATE portal, the CREATE consortium aims to develop a strategy for the production, integration and dissemination of new Cre driver strains for modelling aspects of complex human diseases in the mouse. CREATE is also developing a roadmap for harnessing emerging technologies and methods for improving Cre-mediated recombination in vivo through targeted, intensive workshops and discussion forums on the portal. This will entail review of construct design options for classical transgenic constructs (promoter/enhancer used, small size <2025 Kb) vs large transgenic constructs (BAC, P1, YAC etc.); methods used for Cre transgenic lines including random vs targeted integration, position independent expression loci, or replacement of endogenous coding sequences with Cre recombinase under the control of the endogenous locus. CREATE provides a platform for discussion of additional issues specific to inducible Cre strategies including background activity before induction, inducibility (kinetics), efficiency, and protocols used for induction of Cre recombinase activity. Additional components of the technology roadmap will be the cataloguing of other existing methodologies (rtTA, FLP, Dre) of mouse genome modification, sharing information on validated Cre mutant lines as well as identification and assessment of new methods of mutagenesis such as RNAi and other emerging technologies. Other discussion topics addressed through surveys on the CREATE portal include the characterization of Cre lines (specificity of expression/deletion; efficiency of expression/ deletion; reproducibility of deletion from animal to animal for the same floxed allele; reproducibility with different floxed alleles; timing of expression/deletion, etc.), the extent to which Cre expression changes upon backcrossing to specific genetic backgrounds through variegation and silencing; potential phenotypes caused by either integration- mediated mutagenesis or Cre ''toxicity''; and other factors affecting the specificity of Cre-mediated expression/deletion. CREATE regularly integrates common fields from the Cre-X, CreZOO and the MGI recombinase portal resources described below. The data in common consists of: * Transgene or Knock-in name. * MGI ID of allele. * Driver. * Anatomical site of expression. * Pubmed ID. * IMSR strain name and link. * Inducibility (YES/NO).
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