The open reading frame was replaced with a frt-flanked neo cassette and loxP sites flanking the open reading frame in exon 7. The floxed exon 7 region was removed via cre-mediated recombination and the neo cassette via flp-mediated recombination. Lack of the open reading frame was confirmed by RT-PCR, however RT-PCR of the 3-UTR (without the ORF) exhibits an approximate 1.5-fold increase in transcript levels. (J:228903)