A 200 bp region of the gene spanning amino acid 5 of exon 1 to part of intron 1 was replaced with a neomycin resistance cassette via homologous recombination. The gene targeting event specifically disrupts the beta 1 isoform of the gene product. The beta 2 and beta 3 isoforms, which do not utilize exon 1, remain intact. Western blot analysis verified the absence of beta 1 isoform in homozygous mutant animals. (J:31731)