Novel Reporter Alleles of GSK-3 alpha and GSK-3 beta

作者：Barrell William B; Szabo Rogers Heather L; Liu Karen J^*

来源：PLos One, 2012, 7(11): e50422.

DOI：10.1371/journal.pone.0050422

Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 (GSK-3) is a key player in development, physiology and disease. Because of this, GSK-3 inhibitors are increasingly being explored for a variety of applications. In addition most analyses focus on GSK-3 beta and overlook the closely related protein GSK-3 alpha. Here, we describe novel GSK-3 alpha and GSK-3 beta mouse alleles that allow us to visualise expression of their respective mRNAs by tracking beta-galactosidase activity. We used these new lacZ alleles to compare expression in the palate and cranial sutures and found that there was indeed differential expression. Furthermore, both are loss of function alleles and can be used to generate homozygous mutant mice; in addition, excision of the lacZ cassette from GSK-3 alpha creates a Cre-dependent tissue-specific knockout. As expected, GSK3 alpha mutants were viable, while GSK3 beta mutants died after birth with a complete cleft palate. We also assessed the GSK-3 alpha mutants for cranial and sternal phenotypes and found that they were essentially normal. Finally, we observed gestational lethality in compound GSK-3 beta(-/-); GSK3 alpha(+/-) mutants, suggesting that GSK-3 dosage is critical during embryonic development.

• 出版日期2012-11-21