Published online Jan 14, 2017. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v23.i2.224
Peer-review started: August 3, 2016
First decision: September 21, 2016
Revised: October 5, 2016
Accepted: November 2, 2016
Article in press: November 2, 2016
Published online: January 14, 2017
Processing time: 162 Days and 20.1 Hours
To prepare a Gpm6a/ReelinGFPCreERT2 construct with a rapid and reliable strategy using a bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC).
Gpm6a and Reelin BACs were purified and transformed into SW102 E. coli by electroporation. The GFPCreERT2 fragment was prepared from a shuttle vector and transformed into SW102 E. coli carrying a BAC. Homologous recombination was induced in SW102 E. coli. Recombinant clones were screened and confirmed by PCR and restriction enzyme digestion. Recombinant clones were transformed into SW102 E. coli to remove the kanamycin unit.
A complete BAC was successfully transformed into SW102 E. coli by electroporation because BAC purified from SW102 E. coli showed the same pattern as the original BAC with BamHI digestion. The GFPCreERT2 fragment was deemed to have been prepared successfully because we obtained the same size fragment as expected. Homologous recombination was induced, and GFPCreERT2 was deemed to have been inserted into the correct site of the BAC because we found the band change was the same as the expected pattern after restriction enzyme digestion. The kanamycin unit was deemed to have been removed successfully because we obtained different sizes of bands that were consistent with the results expected by PCR with different primers.
The construct of Gpm6aGFPCreERT2 or ReelinGFPCreERT2 was prepared successfully, which will establish a foundation for tracing the hepatic stellate cell lineage and studying its function.
Core tip: Until now, there have been few specific mouse lines that allowed recombination for tracing hepatic mesothelial cells or hepatic stellate cells. Here, we describe a rapid and reliable strategy for construct preparation using a bacterial artificial chromosome. This study prepared a Gpm6a/ReelinGFPCreERT2 construct for the first time, which is the first step for the preparation of a Gpm6aGFPCreERT2 or ReelinGFPCreERT2 mouse line.