The complete 6,982 bp of coding sequence, including 250 nucleotides upstream of the transcriptional start site and 321 nucleotides following the 3'-end of the transcript, was flanked by loxP sites. A FRT-flanked neomycin cassette was inserted downstream of the coding sequence but upstream of the second loxP site. Cre-mediated recombination removed the entire floxed region. qRT-PCR confirmed absence of transcripts in various organs. (J:260021)