Targeting Cre recombinase to specific neuron populations with bacterial artificial chromosome constructs

Abstract

Transgenic mouse lines are characterized with Cre recombinase driven by promoters of CNS-specific genes using bacterial artificialchromosome (BAC) constructs. BAC-Cre constructs for 10 genes (Chat, Th, Slc6a4, Slc6a2, Etv1, Ntsr1, Drd2, Drd1, Pcp2, and Cmtm5)produced 14 lines with Cre expression in specific neuronal and glial populations in the brain. These Cre driver lines add functional utility to the >500 BAC-EGFP (enhanced green fluorescent protein) transgenic mouse lines that are part of the Gene Expression Nervous System Atlas Project.