The Transgenic Core works with investigators to generate animal models that will increase ourfundamental understanding of gene function in rheumatic diseases. This Core was established in 1989 andproduces transgenic mice and rats, and gene-targeted mice (knockouts) for Rheumatic Disease Core Centermembers. Other services include rederivation of pathogen free mice, mouse strain cryopreservation andrecovery, and transgenic technology training. The Transgenic Core maintains specialized equipment formicroinjection, cryopreservation, and mouse embryonic stem (ES) cell culture. The Core maintains anddistributes plasmids for transgene or gene targeting vector construction. To maximize gene targetingsuccess, the Core performs quality assurance tests on ES cell lines, feeder cells, and serum for ES cellculture. This is a collaborative Core that combines the expertise of investigators in the molecular biology ofthe genes they study and the Core's expertise in producing genetically engineered mice.Unique capabilities that set this Core apart are 1) guaranteed production of transgenic mice and rats, 2)routine production of BAG transgenic mice, 3) production of transgenic mice in unique genetic backgrounds,4) gene targeting in C57BL/6 ES cell lines in addition to 129/Sv ES cells, 5) open access to reagents andequipment, and training in ES cell culture and microinjection methods. Access to the Transgenic Coreobviates the need for investigators to devote resources to equipment purchases and personnel time totraining in micromanipulation, ES cell culture, and mouse embryo manipulation. Consultation on all aspectsof transgenic and ES cell research is provided, from the design of transgenes and conditional targetingvectors to mouse breeding and phenotype analysis.We deliver an average of ten transgenic founder mice and guarantee that at least three founders will beproduced for each DMA construct submitted to the Core. The Core electroporates totipotent ES cells withtargeting vectors, selects 480 ES cell clones, and provides investigators with ES cell clone DNA to screen forhomologous recombination with targeting vectors. We guarantee that ES cell clones with desired geneticchanges will be microinjected into at least 50 mouse blastocysts to produce ES cell-mouse chimeras. Theefficiency of these procedures meets or exceeds published values in the literature.Based on past use, the projected annual usage by Center members is 30 transgenic mouse orders, 6 EScell electroporation orders, and 15 ES cell-mouse chimera orders. This is 34% of the Core's total universitywidecapacity and is consistent with past usage by Center Members.
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