Strain Detail: Ubc13flox mice

Ubc13, an enzyme classified as ubiquitin conjugating enzyme (E2), constructs poly-ubiquitin chains to add ubiquitin to lysine 63 (K63). K63-linked poly-ubiquitin chains is related to signal transduction and DNA repair to function as protein binding domains. For example, the addition of K63-linked poly-ubiquitin chains to target proteins by Ubc13 is essential for signal transduction of immunoreceptor induced to activate transcription factor NF-κB. Akiraet al. showed that Ubc13 palyed an important role of macrophage activation and B-cell formation or function to examine an effect of tissue-specific inactivation of Ubc13 gene by using Ubc13flox mice (1).

This strain is established by crossing between C57BL/6 strain and chimera by using ES cells derived from 129/Ola strain (E14.1) introduced two loxP sites flanking exon 2, 3 and 4 of Ubc13 gene by gene targeting. It's possible to inactivate Ubc13 gene by crossing with Cre expressing mice. It's possible to inactivate NDRG1 stage- or tissue-specifically by selecting different promoter inducing to express Cre recombinase, thus this strain is available for research of stage- or tissue-specific Ubc13.

On the one hand, "Ubc13 knockout mice" ware also produced, but embryonic lethal (1). Furthermore, Ubc13flox mice are observed abnormality of Toll-like receptor/IL-1R signal by tissue-specific knockout.

1. Yamamoto M, Okamoto T, Takeda K, Sato S, Sanjo H, Uematsu S, Saitoh T, Yamamoto N, Sakurai H, Ishii KJ, Yamaoka S, Kawai T, Matsuura Y, Takeuchi O, and Akira S. (2006) Key function for the Ubc13 E2 ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme in immune receptor signaling. Nat. Immunol. 7(9):962-70. [PMID:16862162]