TASK1 and TASK3 Knockout Mouse Strains

Reagent Descriptions
Five reagents are available:

• Task1^flox: In this strain, the gene for TASK-1 (K2P3.1, Kcnk3) has been flanked by loxP sites in order to support Cre-mediated excision. Targeting constructs were generated from restriction fragments of genomic DNA surrounding exon II of each TASK-1 derived from a BAC construct. Flanking loxP sites and a neomycin resistance cassette were inserted into the gene fragments, and the resulting construct was transfected into embryonic stem cells for homologous recombination. Chimeric founders were obtained following blastocyst injection with ES cells and backcrossed onto a congenic C57BL/6 background. Congenic TASK-1^f/%u207A animals were intercrossed to yield homozygous floxed TASK-1 animals (TASK-1^f/f).
• Task3^flox: This strain was generated as described for the Task1^flox strain by targeting exon II of TASK-3.
• Task1 Knockout: This strain was generated by crossing Task1^flox congenic animals with C57BL/6 Cre-deleter mice from Jackson Labs (EIIa-Cre; Stock #003724) to excise the floxed exon and subsequent intercrosses of heterozygotes yielded homozygous knockout breeding pairs. Southern blot and PCR analysis confirms gene disruption, and qRT-PCR and in situ hybridization demonstrate the absence of TASK-1 transcripts in brain and adrenal glands.
• Task3 Knockout: This strain was generated as described for the Task1 knockout strain by crossing Task3^flox animals with Cre-deleter mice.
• Task1/3 Dual Knockout: This strain was generated by intercrosses between TASK-1 and TASK-3 knockout lines, generating mice homozygous for deleted TASK-1 and TASK-3 alleles. The line is maintained with homozygous breeding pairs.

References
J Neurosci. 2007 Dec 19;27(51):14049-58. (Available online.)