A novel distal convoluted tubule-specific Cre-recombinase driven by the NaCl cotransporter gene.
Am J Physiol Renal Physiol
; 319(3): F423-F435, 2020 09 01.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-32657158
ABSTRACT
Cre-lox technology has revolutionized research in renal physiology by allowing site-specific genetic recombination in individual nephron segments. The distal convoluted tubule (DCT), consisting of distinct early (DCT1) and late (DCT2) segments, plays a central role in Na+ and K+ homeostasis. The only established Cre line targeting the DCT is Pvalb-Cre, which is limited by noninducibility, activity along DCT1 only, and activity in neurons. Here, we report the characterization of the first Cre line specific to the entire DCT. CRISPR/Cas9 targeting was used to introduce a tamoxifen-inducible IRES-Cre-ERT2 cassette downstream of the coding region of the Slc12a3 gene encoding the NaCl cotransporter (NCC). The resulting Slc12a3-Cre-ERT2 mice were crossed with R26R-YFP reporter mice, which revealed minimal leakiness with 6.3% of NCC-positive cells expressing yellow fluorescent protein (YFP) in the absence of tamoxifen. After tamoxifen injection, YFP expression was observed in 91.2% of NCC-positive cells and only in NCC-positive cells, revealing high recombination efficiency and DCT specificity. Crossing to R26R-TdTomato mice revealed higher leakiness (64.5%), suggesting differential sensitivity of the floxed site. Western blot analysis revealed no differences in abundances of total NCC or the active phosphorylated form of NCC in Slc12a3-Cre-ERT2 mice of either sex compared with controls. Plasma K+ and Mg2+ concentrations and thiazide-sensitive Na+ and K+ excretion did not differ in Slc12a3-Cre-ERT2 mice compared with controls when sex matched. These data suggest genetic modification had no obvious effect on NCC function. Slc12a3-Cre-ERT2 mice are the first line generated demonstrating inducible Cre recombinase activity along the entire DCT and will be a useful tool to study DCT function.
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Texto completo:
1
Coleções:
01-internacional
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Recombinases
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Simportadores de Cloreto de Sódio
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Túbulos Renais Distais
Limite:
Animals
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Am J Physiol Renal Physiol
Assunto da revista:
FISIOLOGIA
/
NEFROLOGIA
Ano de publicação:
2020
Tipo de documento:
Article