Genetic manipulation to analyze pheromone responses: knockouts of multiple receptor genes

Methods Mol Biol. 2013:1068:133-54. doi: 10.1007/978-1-62703-619-1_10.

Abstract

Gene targeting in the mouse is an essential technique to study gene function in vivo. Multigene families encoding vomeronasal receptor (VR) type 1 and type 2 consist of ~300 intact genes, which are clustered at multiple loci in the mouse genome. To understand the function of VRs and neurons expressing a particular VR in vivo, individual endogenous receptor genes can be manipulated by conventional gene targeting to create loss-of-function mutations or to visualize neurons and their axons expressing the VR. Multiple receptor genes in a cluster can also be deleted simultaneously by chromosome engineering, allowing analysis of function of a particular VR subfamily. Here, we describe protocols for conventional gene targeting and chromosome engineering for deleting a large genomic region in mouse embryonic stem (ES) cells.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Embryonic Stem Cells / cytology
  • Gene Targeting
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Multigene Family / genetics
  • Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled / analysis*
  • Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled / chemistry
  • Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled / genetics
  • Receptors, Pheromone / analysis*
  • Receptors, Pheromone / chemistry
  • Receptors, Pheromone / genetics
  • Sequence Deletion / genetics
  • Vomeronasal Organ / cytology
  • Vomeronasal Organ / metabolism*

Substances

  • Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled
  • Receptors, Pheromone