Department of Molecular Biomedical Sciences, Center for Comparative Medicine and Translational Research, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University , Raleigh, NC 27607 , USA.
Biol Open. 2012 Dec 15;1(12):1200-3. doi: 10.1242/bio.20122287. Epub 2012 Sep 25.
Nestin-cre transgenic mice have been widely used to direct recombination to neural stem cells (NSCs) and intermediate neural progenitor cells (NPCs). Here we report that a readily utilized, and the only commercially available, Nestin-cre line is insufficient for directing recombination in early embryonic NSCs and NPCs. Analysis of recombination efficiency in multiple cre-dependent reporters and a genetic mosaic line revealed consistent temporal and spatial patterns of recombination in NSCs and NPCs. For comparison we utilized a knock-in Emx1(cre) line and found robust recombination in NSCs and NPCs in ventricular and subventricular zones of the cerebral cortices as early as embryonic day 12.5. In addition we found that the rate of Nestin-cre driven recombination only reaches sufficiently high levels in NSCs and NPCs during late embryonic and early postnatal periods. These findings are important when commercially available cre lines are considered for directing recombination to embryonic NSCs and NPCs.
巢蛋白启动子 Cre 转基因小鼠已被广泛用于指导神经干细胞（NSCs）和中间神经祖细胞（NPCs）的重组。在这里，我们报告说，一种易于使用且唯一可商购的巢蛋白 Cre 线对于指导早期胚胎 NSCs 和 NPCs 的重组是不够的。在多个 Cre 依赖性报告基因和遗传嵌合系中的重组效率分析显示，NSCs 和 NPCs 中的重组具有一致的时空模式。为了进行比较，我们利用了一种敲入 Emx1(cre)系，并发现了在大脑皮质的脑室和室下区中，NSCs 和 NPCs 早在胚胎第 12.5 天就出现了强烈的重组。此外，我们发现巢蛋白 Cre 驱动的重组在胚胎晚期和出生后早期才在 NSCs 和 NPCs 中达到足够高的水平。当考虑使用商业上可获得的 Cre 线来指导胚胎 NSCs 和 NPCs 的重组时，这些发现非常重要。
