iSuRe-Cre is a genetic tool to reliably induce and report Cre-dependent genetic modifications

Nat Commun. 2019 May 22;10(1):2262. doi: 10.1038/s41467-019-10239-4.

Abstract

Most biomedical research aimed at understanding gene function uses the Cre-Lox system, which consists of the Cre recombinase-dependent deletion of genes containing LoxP sites. This system enables conditional genetic modifications because the expression and activity of the recombinase Cre/CreERT2 can be regulated in space by tissue-specific promoters and in time by the ligand tamoxifen. Since the precise Cre-Lox recombination event is invisible, methods were developed to report Cre activity and are widely used. However, numerous studies have shown that expression of a given Cre activity reporter cannot be assumed to indicate deletion of other LoxP-flanked genes of interest. Here, we report the generation of an inducible dual reporter-Cre mouse allele, iSuRe-Cre. By significantly increasing Cre activity in reporter-expressing cells, iSuRe-Cre provides certainty that these cells have completely recombined floxed alleles. This genetic tool increases the ease, efficiency, and reliability of conditional mutagenesis and gene function analysis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Culture Techniques
  • Cloning, Molecular / methods
  • Gene Editing / methods*
  • Genetic Vectors / genetics*
  • Integrases / genetics*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Mouse Embryonic Stem Cells
  • Plasmids / genetics*
  • Promoter Regions, Genetic / drug effects
  • Promoter Regions, Genetic / genetics
  • Recombination, Genetic / drug effects
  • Tamoxifen / pharmacology

Substances

  • Tamoxifen
  • Cre recombinase
  • Integrases