Exon 2 was replaced with a modified one in which nucleotide substitutions (TAT to GCT) result in the amino acid substitution of alanine for tyrosine at position 297 (Y297A). This mutation reduces VEGF164 binding. Cre-mediated recombination removed the floxed neomycin resistance cassette inserted downstream of the modified exon 2. Immunoblotting confirmed severely reduced protein expression in the brain, heart and kidney. (J:208348)