Tg(tetO-COX8A/PstI*)1Ctm

This transgene consists of a mammalianized version of the bacterial PstI gene positioned behind a 5' mitochondrial targeting sequence from human COX VIII (COX8a) gene under the control of the tetracycline response element (TRE) promoter. The intervening sequence 8 (IVS8) was introduced between the TRE and the mito-PstI coding sequence. Southern blots indicate reduced levels of mtDNA and accumulation of partially deleted mtDNA in mice mated with tetracycline-controlled transactivator protein-expressing mice, indicating that the expressed protein is functional and induces double-stranded breaks in mtDNA. Treatment with Dox prevents the expression of the transgene. (J:145737)