Myh6 promoter-driven Cre recombinase excises floxed DNA fragments in a subset of male germline cells

J Mol Cell Cardiol. 2023 Feb:175:62-66. doi: 10.1016/j.yjmcc.2022.12.005. Epub 2022 Dec 28.

Abstract

Myh6-Cre transgenic mouse line was known to express Cre recombinase only in the heart. Nevertheless, during breeding Myh6-Cre to Rosa26fstdTom reporter (tdTom) mouse line, we observed that a significant part of their F2 tdTom/+ offspring had tdTom reporter gene universally activated. Our results show that Myh6-Cre transgenic mice have Cre recombinase activity in a subpopulation of the male germline cells, and that Myh6 gene transcripts are enriched in the interstitial Leydig cells and the undifferentiated spermatogonia stem cells. In summary, the current study confirms that the previously known "heart-specific" Myh6 promoter drives Cre expression in the testis.

Keywords: Cre; Germline cells; Myh6 promoter; tdTom reporter.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Germ Cells* / metabolism
  • Integrases* / genetics
  • Integrases* / metabolism
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Promoter Regions, Genetic / genetics

Substances

  • Cre recombinase
  • Integrases