Gene targeting restricted to mouse striated muscle lineage

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Abstract
Spatially and temporally regulated somatic mutations can be achieved by using the Cre/LoxP recombination system of bacteriophage P1. In order to develop gene knockouts restricted to striated muscle, we generated a transgenic mouse line expressing Cre recombinase under the control of the human α-skeletal actin promoter. Specific excision of a loxP-flanked gene was demonstrated in striated muscle, heart and skeletal muscle, in a pattern very similar to the expression of the endogenous α-skeletal actin gene. Therefore, the reported transgenic line can be used to target inactivation or activation of a given gene to the skeletal muscle lineage.