Negative selection with the Diphtheria toxin A fragment gene improves frequency of Cre-mediated cassette exchange in ES cells

J Biochem. 2006 Dec;140(6):793-8. doi: 10.1093/jb/mvj208. Epub 2006 Oct 15.

Abstract

The Cre-lox system is an important tool for genetic manipulation in embryonic stem cells. We previously reported that the cassette exchange strategy using the mutant lox66/71 and lox2272 combination showed high recombination efficiency and stability. However, the efficiency was strongly affected by the position of chromosomal target lox sites. To enrich successful cassette exchange events, even in clones showing lower recombination efficiency, we have improved exchange vector. The Diphtheria toxin A fragment gene was placed in the un-exchanged region for negative selection and the puromycin N-acetyltransferase gene, instead of the neomycin phosphotransferase gene, was used for positive selection. By reducing random integration, the frequency of successful cassette exchange increased up to 2-4 fold. Furthermore, by adding the third lox site to induce intrarmolecular recombination, the recombination efficiency of cassette exchange itself was improved, and the frequency increased to maximum 5 fold, in which the percentage of exchanged clones reached to 50-70%. This strategy should be useful for other recombinase-mediated cassette exchanges.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Line
  • Diphtheria Toxin / genetics
  • Diphtheria Toxin / pharmacology*
  • Embryonic Stem Cells / drug effects
  • Embryonic Stem Cells / physiology*
  • Genetic Vectors
  • Integrases / physiology*
  • Mice
  • Mutagenesis, Insertional
  • Peptide Fragments / genetics
  • Peptide Fragments / pharmacology*
  • Recombination, Genetic / drug effects
  • Recombination, Genetic / genetics*

Substances

  • Diphtheria Toxin
  • Peptide Fragments
  • diphtheria toxin fragment A
  • Cre recombinase
  • Integrases