Abstract
Genetically engineered mouse models have become an indispensable tool for breast cancer research. Combination of multiple site-specific recombination systems such as Cre/loxP and Flippase (Flp)/Frt allows for engineering of sophisticated, multi-layered conditional mouse models. Here, we report the generation and characterization of a novel transgenic mouse line expressing a mouse codon-optimized Flp under the control of the mouse mammary tumor virus (MMTV) promoter. These mice show robust Flp-mediated recombination in luminal mammary gland and breast cancer cells but no Flp activity in non-mammary tissues, with the exception of limited activity in salivary glands. These mice provide a unique tool for studying mammary gland biology and carcinogenesis in mice.
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Abbreviations
- MMTV:
-
Mouse mammary tumor virus
- Flp:
-
Flippase
- Flpo:
-
mouse codon usage-optimized Flp
- CK:
-
cytokeratin
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Acknowledgments
We thank P. Lorentz for support with microscopy and H. Antoniadis and U. Schmieder for technical support. We are grateful to S. Dymecki and N. Hynes for providing mice and P. Soriano and K. Alitalo for plasmids. R.B. was supported by a MD-PhD fellowship of the Swiss National Science Foundation and Swiss Cancer League. The work was supported by the Swiss National Science Foundation and the Swiss Cancer League.
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F.L. designed and performed the experiments, analysed the data and wrote the manuscript. R.B. conceived the idea and designed some of the experiments and analysed the data. A.V. performed some of the experiments. H.O. and P.P. performed the pronuclei microinjections. G.C. supervised the project, designed the experiments, analysed the data and wrote the manuscript.
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The authors declare no financial and non-financial competing interests.
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All animal experiments were carried out in accordance with the guidelines of the Swiss Federal Veterinary Office (SFVO) and the Cantonal Veterinary Office of Basel-Stadt (license numbers 1878, 1023G1).
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No individual person’s data has been used in this project.
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Lüönd, F., Bill, R., Vettiger, A. et al. A Transgenic MMTV-Flippase Mouse Line for Molecular Engineering in Mammary Gland and Breast Cancer Mouse Models. J Mammary Gland Biol Neoplasia 24, 39–45 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10911-018-9412-4
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10911-018-9412-4