Table 1 Comparison of published CRE transgenic lines with lens expression
From: Considerations for the use of Cre recombinase for conditional gene deletion in the mouse lens
Name | Promoter elements | Method of creation | Lens expression | Non-lens expression | Status | Coding sequences | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ap2α-IRESCre | Endogenous mouse Tcfap2α gene | Embryonic stem cell targeted mutation | Head surface ectoderm prior to lens placode formation (before E9.0) | Extensive head and trunk surface ectoderm and neural crest cells | Available | CRE | IRES-CRE targeted to the 3’ UTR of the Tcfap2α gene |
Le-Cre | 6.5 Kb mouse Pax6 P0 promoter including both the ectodermal enhancer and retina/pancreas enhancer. Approximately 400 bp mouse Pax6 sequence follows the GFP coding sequence | Zygote microinjection | Lens placode and surrounding surface ectoderm by E9.5 with expression continuing in lens epithelium | Endocrine pancreas, all surface ectoderm-derived eye structures, epidermis from eye to snout | Available | CRE and GFP | Nuclear-localized CRE separated from GFP by an IRES. Microphthalmia in homozygotes and genetic background-dependent variable ocular abnormalities in hemizygotes |
LR-Cre | Three tandem copies of the mouse Pax6 P0 ectodermal enhancer upstream of the minimal P0 promoter | Zygote microinjection | Lens placode and surrounding surface ectoderm by E9.5 | Optic vesicle by E9.5 | Available | CRE and GFP | CRE separated from GFP by an IRES |
MLR10 | 366 bp mouse αA-crystallin promoter with an internal insertion of a 20 bp Pax6 consensus binding site | Zygote microinjection | Lens vesicle by E10.5–11 | Snout and vibrissae follicles, as well as in parts of the midbrain and pituitary gland by E12.5 | Available | CRE |  |
MLR39 | 366 bp mouse αA-crystallin promoter driving CRE with co-injected Tyrosinase minigene | Zygote microinjection | Lens fiber cells by E12.5 | Mosaic RPE expression of CRE | Available | CRE and tyrosinase | Co-injection of both the CRE and tyrosinase transgene resulted in light coat and RPE pigmentation. CRE restricted to lens fibers and RPE |
mαA-Cre | 366 bp mouse αA-crystallin promoter | Zygote microinjection | Assumed in lens fiber cells by E12.5 | Unknown | Extinct | CRE | First demonstrated use of CRE recombination in transgenic mice |
Nes-Cre | Approximately 5 kb rat nestin promoter with nestin nervous system-specific enhancer following the human growth hormone poly adenylation signal | Zygote microinjection | Lens epithelium and fiber cells by E14.5 | Central and peripheral nervous system, ciliary body and isolated expression in the heart and kidney | Available | CRE | Widespread non-lens expression including retina and ciliary body within the eye |
P0-3.9GFPCre | 3.9 Kb mouse Pax6 P0 promoter including both the ectodermal enhancer and retina/pancreas enhancer | Zygote microinjection | Lens placode and surrounding surface ectoderm by E9.5 with expression continuing in lens epithelium | Endocrine pancreas, stomach mesenchyme, apical ectodermal ridge, all surface ectoderm-derived eye structures, epidermis from eye to snout | Available | CRE and GFP | CRE and GFP are expressed as a fusion gene |
Pax6(lens)-Cre | Minimal mouse P0 Pax6 promoter preceded by a single copy of the 340 bp ectodermal enhancer | Zygote microinjection | Lens placode by E9.5 | Unknown | Extinct | CRE |  |