Generation and characterization of Chd7‐iCreERT2‐tdTomato mice

Abstract

SummaryHeterozygous mutation of CHD7 gene causes a severe developmental disorder called CHARGE syndrome. In order to further explore the expression and function of Chd7 in vivo, we generated a Chd7‐P2A‐iCreERT2‐P2A‐tdTomato (in short, Chd7‐CT‐tdT) knockin mouse line using the CRISPR/Cas9 technology. The specificity and efficiency of two knockin genetic elements were validated. The Chd7‐CT‐tdT reporter gene could accurately reflect both the dynamic expression pattern of endogenous Chd7 during neurodevelopment and cell‐type specific expression in the brain and eye. The recombination efficiency of Chd7‐CT‐tdT in postnatal cerebellum is very high. Moreover, lineage tracing experiment showed that Chd7 is expressed in intestinal stem cells. In summary, the newly constructed Chd7‐CT‐tdT mouse line provide a useful tool to study the function of Chd7.