Opn4-Cre

Cre-WPRE-polyA expression cassette was knocked into the Opn4 gene start codon site. The melanopsin gene (Opn4) encodes a functional photopigment. When crossed with a strain carrying a gene flanked by loxP sites, the flanked gene will be removed in cells expressing cre. This strain may be useful for studying circadian rhythm regulation.

Fig. 1 Cre-mediated recombination in the eyes of Opn4^Cre/+; Rosa26^tdTomato/+ mouse. TdTomato(red) expression can be detected in retinal ganglion cell layer (RGC) and inner nuclear layer of Opn4Cre/+; Rosa26tdTomato/+ mouse.

Fig. 2 Detection of tdTomato(red) in various tissues of  Opn4^Cre/+; Rosa26^tdTomato/+ mice. Cre mediated recombination can be detected in   the eyes, hippocampus, olfactory bulb, serous layer of the large intestine, testis, epididymis, pulmonary bronchial epithelial cells, kidney, thymus and pituitary gland. Tdtomato expression can not be observed in the cerebellum, heart, liver, spleen, muscle, skin, stomach, small intestine or submandibular gland. (For more detailed information please contact our technical advisor.)