Agouti C57BL/6N embryonic stem cells for mouse genetic resources

Abstract

Mouse embryonic stem cell lines from the C57BL/6 strain are reported. The lines are highly germline competent, suitable for high-throughput genetic manipulation and will enable the generation of large knockout mouse resources. We report the characterization of a highly germline competent C57BL/6N mouse embryonic stem cell line, JM8. To simplify breeding schemes, the dominant agouti coat color gene was restored in JM8 cells by targeted repair of the C57BL/6 nonagouti mutation. These cells provide a robust foundation for large-scale mouse knockout programs that aim to provide a public resource of targeted mutations in the C57BL/6 genetic background.