Tg(Myh6-cre)TG9Pjay

cDNA encoding cre recombinase was cloned into a vector containing a 5.8 kb fragment of the Myh6 (alpha-MHC) promoter including the promoter region and exons 1-3 with the hGH polyadenylation site 3' to the Myh6 fragment. The purified construct was microinjected into male pronuclei of fertilized FVB/N oocytes. 6 founders died with signs of congestive heart failure before germline transmission was established. Two founders transmitted the transgene to produce lines TG 9 and TG 12. TG9 mice developed severe cardiomyopathy and died of heart failure at 11-13 weeks. TG12 animals did not show any pathological cardiac phenotype. The TG9 line was investigated in detail. TG9 cre protein levels are much higher than in TG12 animals, and 50-100 fold higher than in Tg(Myhca-cre)1Abel mice. (J:198043)