Tg(Sp7/mCherry)2Pmay

Bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) library (CHORI) was used to obtain a 39 kb BAC (#RP24-362M3) containing the entire mouse Sp7 gene. This BAC was modified to fuse the first 17 amino acids of Sp7 to the N-terminal of the red fluorescent protein (Cherry) sequence upstream of the second translation start site. This transgene contains two translational start sites; the first is located in exon 1b and results in a long protein isoform containing 428 amino acids. The second start site is in-frame with upstream start site located at the beginning of exon 2 and results in a short protein isoform containing 410 amino acids. The Cherry reporter can be used to detect both isoforms. Strong reporter expression is observed in mature osteoblasts and osteocytes; weak expression is observed in bone marrow. (J:195100)