Transgenic and Knockout Shared Resource

Mayo Clinic Rochester, Rochester MN

Investigators

Linked publications, trials & patents

Abstract

TRANSGENIC AND KNOCKOUT SHARED RESOURCE: ABSTRACT The Transgenic and Knockout Shared Resource (TKOSR) of the Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center (MCCCC), led by Darren Baker (CGSM, MCR) since 2020, generates transgenic and gene-targeted mice for researchers at Mayo Clinic in Rochester (MCR), Mayo Clinic in Arizona (MCA), and Mayo Clinic in Florida (MCF). Mouse models are essential tools for studying the underlying causes of cancer that enable researchers to observe how genes or mutant variations influence disease. These studies form the backbone for the development of novel therapeutic strategies tested in proof-of-principle experiments. TKOSR has the following Specific Aims: Aim 1: Provide Cancer Center members with key services related to the generation, maintenance, and analysis of genetically engineered knockout/knockin mouse strains. Aim 2: Provide MCCCC members with free consultation on project planning, experimental design, data analysis and interpretation, and convenient in-house access to all its services. Aim 3: Develop and offer new or more efficient service lines that use CRISPR/Cas9-mediated genetic engineering in fertilized mouse embryos. TKOSR services include CRISPR/Cas9-mediated editing of genes of interest in fertilized mouse eggs to generate knockout and knockin mouse models with inactivated or tagged genes, or with introduced point mutations, reporter genes, loxP sites, or large deletions. Additional services offered by the TKOSR include founder screening, founder breeding, sperm cryopreservation, recovery of cryopreserved mouse strains through in vitro fertilization, and standard histopathology. These services are offered to all Mayo Clinic faculty and staff engaged in research and their non-Mayo research collaborators. Utilization of the resource has been strong, with 73 Cancer Center members from five different Programs using the SR during the current funding period (2019- 2023). More than half of TKO users are MCCCC members. TKOSR also contributed to 15 publications by MCCCC members from 2019 through 2023, eight of which were in journals with impact factors >10. Member Utilization 2019-2023: 73 Total (0 CPCS, 3 REDI, 26 CGSM, 18 CII, 16 NTTM, 10 ACTS) Publication by Members: 15, 8 with Impact Factor >10