Comt^{tm2(COMT)Xzho}

The targeting construct was designed to replace the entire endogenous coding region with the human sequence following by a neomycin (neo) resistance cassette. A missense mutation was introduced in exon 3, corresponding with human codon 158, resulting in the Val158Met mutation commonly associated with schizophrenia and other psychiatric disorders. Western blot analysis confirmed the absence of protein expression in the hippocampus and cortex. (J:224284)