Dwarfism in homozygous Agc1^CreERT mice is associated with decreased expression of aggrecan.

ABSTRACT: Aggrecan (Acan), a large proteoglycan is abundantly expressed in cartilage tissue. Disruption of Acan gene causes dwarfism and perinatal lethality of homozygous mice. Because of sustained expression of Acan in the growth plate and articular cartilage, Agc^Cre model has been developed for the regulated ablation of target gene in chondrocytes. In this model, the IRES-CreERT-Neo-pgk transgene is knocked-in the 3'UTR of the Acan gene. We consistently noticed variable weight and size among the Agc^Cre littermates, prompting us to examine the cause of this phenotype. Wild-type, Cre-heterozygous (Agc^+/Cre ), and Cre-homozygous (Agc^Cre/Cre ) littermates were indistinguishable at birth. However, by 1-month, Agc^Cre/Cre mice showed a significant re

SUBMITTER: Rashid H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5648336 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature