GENSAT


 

The Gene Expression Nervous System Atlas (www.gensat.org) involves the large-scale creation of transgenic mouse lines expressing green fluorescent protein (GFP) reporters or DNA recombinases in specific neural and glial cell populations. In each mouse line, expression of the reporter or recombinase is controlled by promoter elements derived from a bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) containing a specific gene of interest, in order to mimic expression patterns of that gene. To date, approximately 1,000 transgenic BAC-GFP reporter mouse lines have been generated, and many have proven to be extremely valuable in experiments requiring identification of specific cell populations and details of cellular morphology.  BAC-Cre recombinase driver lines are being generated in collaboration with the NIMH intramural program. Over 30 fully characterized BAC-Credriver lines have been created so far, targeting selected neuronal or glial populations in the brain and spinal cord. 

The BAC-GFP expression data, as well as in situ hybridization data, are available in online, searchable databases (www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/projects/gensat/ and www.stjudebgem.org/web/mainPage/mainPage.php).  Nearly 800 BAC mouse lines have been placed in MMRRCs (www.mmrrc.org) since the beginning of the project and are available for a small processing fee.  Researchers can nominate genes to GENSAT (www.gensat.org/GeneNominationForm.jsp), and register interest for specific BAC-Crerecombinase driver lines (www.gensat.org/CrePipeline.jsp).

Contacts:
Laura Mamounas, Ph.D.
Program Director, Neurogenetics, and GENSAT Project Officer
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
mamounal@ninds.nih.gov
(301) 496-5745

Ned Talley, Ph.D.
Program Director, Channels, Synapses and Circuits
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
talleye@ninds.nih.gov
(301) 496-1917

Amelie K. Gubitz, Ph.D.
Program Analyst, Neurogenetics, and GENSAT Project Co-Officer
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
gubitza@ninds.nih.gov
(301) 496-5745

 

GENSAT is funded by NINDS, NIMH and the NIH Blueprint for Neuroscience Research.

The Mutant Mouse Regional Resource Centers are supported by NCRR, with additional funding from the NIH Blueprint for Neuroscience Research.