Transgenic reporter mice were generated by pronucleus injection. The transgene contains three copies of retinoic acid response element (RARE) derived from the RAR-b2 promoter attached to the luciferase firefly. In addition the transgene is flanked with Insulator elements to reduce transcriptional influence from the genome. Mice are heterozygous for the transgene and backcrossed for more than six generations from founder strain (B6CBA) to C57BL/6. Luciferase activity reflects activation of the RARE via vitamin A metabolites, and can be monitored by in vivo imaging, ex vivo imaging and biochemically in tissue homogenates. The reporter model is in general used to gain understanding in Vitamin A signalling.
Two publications to exemplify the use:
