Tg(GNAT2-Dta)98Wwk

The 2.4-kb transgenic construct comprises a 277-base pair (-bp) DNA fragment containing the cone photoreceptor cell-specific promoter from the human GNAT2 gene upstream of a 680-bp cDNA encoding an attenuated diphtheria toxin A-chain followed by an SV40 intron and polyadenylation signal and a 214-bp enhancer element from the human RBP3 gene. While RT-PCR detects transcripts from the endogenous Gnat1 and Gnat2 genes, (encoding the rod and cone transducin alpha subunits, respectively) in wild-type retinas from postnatal day 8 (P8) onward, neither endogenous Gnat2 transcripts nor transgene-derived mRNA are detected in retinas from mice of transgenic line 98 at P8 or later. (J:116305)