FACILITIES & OTHER RESOURCES
Specific Fields Relevant for Mouse Core Users
The Emory Transgenic and Gene Targeting Core (http://med.emory/mousecore) provides priority service
to Emory investigators making genetically engineered mouse models or moving alleles on or off campus.
The core operates under the scientific direction of Dr. Tamara Caspary, PhD, and technical direction of
Helen Zhang. Along with an additional two person staff, Core personnel have a combined 62 years of
experience with the following, provided services:
Transgenic Mouse: The Mouse Core generates transgenic mice from plasmid-based or Bacterial
Artificial Chromosome (BAC)- based vectors on the following strain backgrounds: FVB, C57Bl/6, or
B6D2F1. Tail samples are provided to the investigator for genotyping. Over the past 2 years, the core
has averaged four founders per injection session.
ES Cell Gene Targeting: The Mouse Core performs gene targeting in ES cells from either 129 SvEv or
C57Bl/6 strains. Investigators are responsible for identifying positive ES clones. The Core expands the
clones for blastocyst injection. The Mouse Core guarantees germline transmission when gene targeting
is performed in 129/SvEv (HZ2.2 ES cells, derived by the Core’s Technical Director, Helen Zhang). To
date, the core obtained 100% germline transmission for the 21 projects in which the core performed the
ES cell targeting.
Southern Blotting: To facilitate the identification of positively targeted ES cell clones, the Mouse Core
provides the investigator with the equipment and training to perform Southern blots. When requested,
the Mouse Core can provide a probe-ready Southern blot. Individuals must be added to the Mouse
Core’s radiation protocol and probe the blot themselves.
Selection Marker Removal: If requested, the Mouse Core can remove selection cassettes in vitro via
transfection of the relevant recombinase.
Blastocyst Injection and Chimera Breeding: The Mouse Core injects targeted ES cells (from projects
initiated in the Core or from outside sources) into blastocyst-stage C57Bl/6 or albino C57Bl/6 embryos
for production of chimeras. Once chimeras have been produced, the Core breeds to germline
transmission before transferring to the investigator.
Embryo Rederivation and In Vitro Fertilization (IVF): The Mouse Core rederives mouse lines via
embryo rederivation as well as through in vitro fertilization. In both cases, either fresh or frozen
specimens are used. Typically investigators use these services to import or export mouse lines or to reestablish an existing line as pathogen-free. The core has successfully rederived 54 mouse lines for
investigators over the past two years.
Embryo and Sperm Cryopreservation: The Mouse Core freezes either embryos or sperm and
provides lifelong storage at no extra cost to the investigator. As quality control to ensure future recovery
of the line, the Mouse Core requires at least one viable pup of the appropriate genotype be recovered
from frozen sperm or embryo samples. In the past two years, the core obtained live pups of the correct
genotype for of 62 projects.
Timed Mating and Embryo Collection: The Mouse Core sets up matings with specified genotypes,
checks daily for a vaginal plug as evidence of copulation and harvests embryos at time points requested
by the investigator.
Teratoma Injections: In collaboration with Emory’s induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) core and the
Research Pathology Lab, the Mouse Core performs teratoma formation assays. Once the iPSC core
derives a putative iPSC line (mouse or human), the Mouse Core injects the iPSCs into the flank, testes
or the kidney capsule of an immunocompromised mouse, as selected by the Investigator. The mice are
monitored and after 10 weeks, evaluated for formation of teratomas. The Mouse Core harvests the
teratoma and the Research Pathology lab performs immunohistochemistry for markers of endoderm,
mesoderm and ectoderm. Presence of all three layers indicates the iPSC line is bone fide.
CRISPR/Cas9: The core is constantly striving to provide new services and is actively developing
CRISPR/Cas9 as an injection service which we hope to launch by the end of the 2014 calendar year.