The generation and expression of a Hoxa11eGFP targeted allele in mice

Abstract

Hox genes are crucial for body axis specification during embryonic development. Hoxa11 has been previously reported to play a role in anterioposterior patterning of the axial skeleton, development of the urogenital tract of both sexes, and proximal-distal patterning of the limbs. Hoxa11 expression has also been observed in the neural tube. Herein, we report the generation of a Hoxa11eGFP targeted knock-in allele in mice in which eGFP replaces the first coding exon of Hoxa11 as an in-frame fusion. This allele closely recapitulates the reported mRNA expression patterns for Hoxa11. Hoxa11eGFP can be visualized in the tail, neural tube, limbs, kidneys, and reproductive tract of both sexes. Additionally, homozygous mutants recapitulate reported phenotypes for Hoxa11 loss of function mice, exhibiting loss of fertility in both males and females. This targeted mouse line will prove useful as a vital marker for Hoxa11 protein localization during control (heterozygous) or mutant organogenesis.

INTRODUCTION

Hox genes were first described in Drosophila and are homeodomain containing transcription factors that play a role in body axis specification during embryonic development (Wellik, 2007). In mammals, there are 39 Hox genes arranged in four clusters, A, B, C and D, which have arisen through duplications of an ancestral cluster during evolution. Based on sequence similarity, these clusters can be aligned into thirteen paralogous groups, with Hox1 located most 3′ on the chromosome and Hox13 most 5′. During development, the Hox genes are expressed colinearly along the primary body axis with 3′ genes expressed earlier and with more anterior limits, and more 5′ genes expressed later with increasingly posterior boundaries. Members of each paralogous group exhibit similar expression patterns along the anterioposterior (AP) axis and are functionally redundant in many developmental processes. (Condie and Capecchi, 1994; Davis et al., 1995; Horan et al., 1995; Fromental-Ramain et al., 1996; Warot et al., 1997; van den Akker et al., 2001; Wellik et al., 2002; Wellik and Capecchi, 2003; McIntyre et al., 2007)

In mice, expression patterns for Hoxa11 mRNA have been previously reported. Faint expression is first detected at approximately E9.0 in the posterior tip of the embryo. By E10.5 expression in the tail has increased in intensity and expression is also observed in all four limb buds (Small and Potter, 1993). As limb bud morphogenesis proceeds, the mRNA expression pattern undergoes well documented, dynamic changes. The expression is concentrated in the distal limb bud until approximately E11 (Peichel et al., 1997), and becomes localized to the developing zeugopod region at subsequent stages (Haack and Gruss, 1993; Hsieh-Li et al., 1995). In the developing kidney, Hoxa11 expression has been reported in the metanephric blastema prior to ureteric bud induction (Patterson et al., 2001), and later, expression is restricted to the nephrogenic mesenchyme during stages of branching morphogenesis (Patterson et al., 2001). In the adult reproductive system, Hoxa11 expression has been documented in the uterus in females and in the vas deferens in males (Hsieh-Li et al., 1995).

Loss of function of Hoxa11 in the developing embryo results in relatively mild malformations in the axial and appendicular skeleton and defects in the reproductive system of both males and females (Small and Potter, 1993; Hsieh-Li et al., 1995; Gendron et al., 1997; Wong et al., 2004). Mutants of both sexes are infertile (Hsieh-Li et al., 1995). Males exhibit transformation of the vas deferens to an epididymal fate, and the testis do not descend. Mutant females have apparently normal ovaries, however the uterine environment is unable to support implantation (Hsieh-Li et al., 1995; Gendron et al., 1997; Wong et al., 2004). Hoxa11 mutant mice have no detectable kidney phenotype (Hsieh-Li et al., 1995), but mutation of two or more Hox11 group genes results in severe kidney defects (Davis et al., 1995; Patterson et al., 2001; Wellik et al., 2002).

We have generated a targeted Hoxa11eGFP knock-in allele in mice. The eGFP allows real-time visualization of Hoxa11 expression in the developing embryo as well as in the adult mouse. eGFP detection closely follows what has been reported for Hoxa11 mRNA expression (Haack and Gruss, 1993; Small and Potter, 1993; Hsieh-Li et al., 1995; Peichel et al., 1997; Patterson et al., 2001), thus it serves as an useful marker for Hoxa11 protein localization in vivo.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Crosses between Hoxa11eGFP heterozygotes produced offspring in normal Mendelian ratios. Breeding Hoxa11eGFP to homozygosity results in infertility in both sexes, which follows the previously reported Hoxa11 mutant phenotype (Hsieh-Li et al., 1995). Additionally, generation of triple heterozygous mice (Hoxa11eGFP +/−; Hoxc11 +/−; Hoxd11 +/−) also results in infertility as previously reported (Wellik et al., 2002).

Whole Mount Expression

Hoxa11eGFP localization is first observed at approximately E9.0, slightly later than the reported mRNA expression pattern. This is likely due to the time required for mRNA translation into protein and eGFP accumulation to detectable levels. At E9.5, Hoxa11eGFP localization is observed in the tip of the tail and faintly in the emerging forelimb bud (Figure 2B). By E10.5, localization in the forelimb is more intense and restricted to the distal end of the bud. At this stage, Hoxa11eGFP is also localized in the emerging hindlimbs and in the neural tube and flank mesoderm from the mid-hindlimb region to the posterior tip of the tail (Figure 2D). Fidelity of the Hoxa11eGFP detection is evident by comparison with the Hoxa11 mRNA expression pattern observed in whole mount embryos (compare Figure 2C with 2D). After E11.5, fluorescence becomes restricted to a more proximal region of the developing limbs, and becomes less intense in the autopod (Figure 2F, H, J, L). Detection in the tail peaks at E10.5 and decreases in intensity at later developmental stages (Figure 2D, F, H, J, L). Hoxa11eGFP fluorescence can be detected in the tail, neural tube and limb buds in whole mount animals through newborn stages (Figure 2L and data not shown). Fluorescence is visible in fresh, fixed and cryopreserved tissues (see Experimental Procedures). No fluorescence is detected in wild type embryos at the same settings used to detect eGFP (Figure 2I and data not shown).

Figure 2.

Hoxa11eGFP fluorescence in whole mount embryos. A, B: E9.5 Hoxa11eGFP heterozygous embryos showing the brightfield view (A) and Hoxa11eGFP fluorescence (B). C: Hoxa11 RNA in situ hybridization on an E10.5 wild type embryo. D: An E10.5 Hoxa11eGFP heterozygous embryo showing eGFP fluorescence. E, F: E11.5 heterozygous Hoxa11eGFP embryo showing the brightfield view (E) and eGFP fluorescence (F). G, H: An E12.5 Hoxa11eGFP heterozygous embryo with the brightfield view (G) and eGFP fluorescence (H). I: An E13.5 wild-type embryo on the green fluorescence channel has no visible fluorescence at settings used for eGFP detection. J: An E13.5 Hoxa11eGFP heterozygous embryo showing eGFP fluorescence. K, L: An E15.5 Hoxa11eGFP heterozygous embryo with the brightfield view (K) and eGFP fluorescence (L). Arrowheads indicate regions of Hoxa11eGFP expression in the limbs in each panel.

Limb Expression

Hoxa11eGFP localization in the limbs closely follows the dynamic patterns previously reported for mRNA expression (Haack and Gruss, 1993; Small and Potter, 1993; Hsieh-Li et al., 1995). Hoxa11eGFP is first detected in the emerging forelimb buds at E9.5 (Figure 2B). By E10.5, strong fluorescence is noted in both the forelimb and hindlimb buds (Figure 2D). At this stage, localization appears to be throughout most of the limb bud by whole mount analysis (Figure 2D), however, section analysis reveals that Hoxa11eGFP is localized uniformly in all mesenchymal cells of the distal limb bud, but in only a subset of cells proximally (Figure 3A). Ubiquitous expression throughout the distal limb bud remains at E11.5, with a subset of cells in the proximal limb bud maintaining strong eGFP fluorescence (Figure 3B). Hoxa11eGFP is excluded from the cells in the center of the proximal limb (Figure 3B). Co-staining at this stage with Sox9, a pre-cartilaginous marker, reveals mutually exclusive expression with Sox9 in the central region of the limb bud. Only a small band of co-localization is observed towards the distal portion of Sox9 expression (Figure 3B). By E12.5, Hoxa11eGFP becomes localized to the developing zeugopod region with lower levels of expression detected in the autopod (Figure 3C). Hoxa11eGFP is observed in the distal zeugopod region at E13.5, and is detected more faintly in the interdigital region of the autopod (Figure 3E). Co-staining with Sox9 at this stage allows the condensing cartilage to be visualized. Hoxa11eGFP and Sox9 appear to be co-expressed at the distal ends of the developing radius and ulna, but otherwise remain mutually exclusive (Figure 3E). At later stages, Hoxa11eGFP is localized at the distal zeugopod, where it is detected surrounding the distal radius and ulna in perichondrial regions (Figure 3E, F). Relatively faint localization in the interdigital mesenchyme of the autopod is observed at E12.5 (Figure 3C). At E15.5 and beyond, Hoxa11eGFP expression in the autopod becomes restricted to cells surrounding the condensing digit cartilage (Figure 3F). Comparison of a wild type control with a Hoxa11eGFP limb section at E13.5 shows the relative background levels for this allele (compare Figure 3D with 3E, no green fluorescence is detected at similar settings in the absence of the Hoxa11eGFP allele).

Figure 3.

Hoxa11eGFP localization in cryosections through the forelimbs at various stages of development. A: A transverse section through a Hoxa11eGFP heterozygous forelimb at E10.5. B: Transverse section of a Hoxa11eGFP heterozygous forelimb at E11.5 co-stained with antibodies to Sox9, a pre-chrondrogenic marker. C: A transverse section through a Hoxa11eGFP heterozygous forelimb at E12.5. D: A transverse section through an E13.5 wild type forelimb (no Hoxa11eGFP), using anti-Sox9 antibody staining (in red) and green channel fluorescence at the same settings as E. E: Transverse section through an Hoxa11eGFP heterozygous E13.5 forelimb co-stained with Sox9 in red. F: A transverse section through a Hoxa11eGFP heterozygous forelimb at E15.5. The scale bar in each panel represents 500 microns.

Urogenital Expression

In the early developing kidney, Hoxa11eGFP can be detected throughout the condensing metanephric mesenchyme and is never observed in the ureteric bud or its derivatives (Figure 4A, B). As tubulogenesis proceeds, Hoxa11eGFP becomes localized to the progenitor cells surrounding the branching ureter tips and less intensely in the mesenchyme surrounding the ureter (Figure 4C, D). Co-staining with Pax2 at E13.5, a marker of nephrogenic mesenchyme and ureteric bud, demonstrates partially overlapping expression (Figure 4D– F). Hoxa11eGFP and Pax2 are both expressed in the nephrogenic mesenchyme. Pax2 is exclusively expressed in the ureteric bud and its derivatives and Hoxa11eGFP is exclusively observed in the stromal mesenchyme surrounding the ureter. At E15.0, Hoxa11eGFP is observed in the nephrogenic mesenchyme and in mesenchymal cells surrounding the ureteric bud (Figure 4G). Co-staining at E16.5 with peanut agglutinin (PNA), a collecting tubule marker, reveals largely exclusive expression with Hoxa11eGFP, although some co-staining in convoluted tubules is apparent (Figure 4H). Localization of Hoxa11eGFP in the nephrogenic progenitor cells is maintained through approximately P8 and is not visible after this stage (data not shown).

Figure 4.

Hoxa11eGFP fluorescence in transverse cryosections of the developing kidney. A: Hoxa11eGFP fluorescence in the condensing metanephric mesenchyme (arrows) of an E10.5 heterozygous embryo. B: Hoxa11eGFP heterozygous embryo at E11.5 with fluorescing metanephric mesenchyme (arrows) being invaded by the ureteric bud (white asterisk), which does not express Hoxa11eGFP. C: E12.5 kidney showing Hoxa11eGFP localized in the condensing nephrogenic mesenchyme (arrow) surrounding the ureteric bud (white asterisk). D: Hoxa11eGFP heterozygous kidney at E13.5, E: co-stained with anti-Pax2 antibody (in red), and F: colocalizations of Hoxa11eGFP and Pax2 in this section. Co-localization of Hoxa11eGFP and Pax2 is observed in the condensing nephrogenic mesenchyme (arrow). The ureteric bud (white asterisk) and ureteric bud-derived elements show only Pax2 expression, and mesenchyme surrounding the ureter demonstrates only Hoxa11eGFP. G: In the E15.0 Hoxa11eGFP heterozygous kidney, fluorescence is detected in the condensing nephrogenic mesenchyme cells (arrow) and in mesenchyme surrounding the ureteric bud (white asterisk), which does not express the Hoxa11eGFP allele. H: PNA, which labels early collecting tubules, is largely non-overlapping with Hoxa11eGFP at E16.5. Scale bars indicate 200 microns in all panels.

In the female reproductive tract, Hoxa11eGFP is observed throughout the uterus but not in the ovaries. Localization in the uterus is established during the early differentiation of the tissue (Figure 5A) and remains high throughout adulthood at all stages examined (Figure 5C, E, G and data not shown). In males, Hoxa11eGFP is strongly expressed in the vas deferens from embryonic stages (Figure 5B) through adulthood (Figure 5D, F, H and data not shown).

Figure 5.

Hoxa11eGFP fluorescence in heterozygous reproductive tracts from both sexes. A, C, E and G: Dissected female reproductive tracts at E16.5 (A), P1 (C), P28 (E) and 10 months (G). Hoxa11eGFP is observed in the developing uterus (arrows) and is excluded from the ovaries. B, D, F and H: Dissected male reproductive tracts at E16.5 (B), P1 (D), P28 (F) and 10 months (H). Intense Hoxa11eGFP localization is observed in the vas deferens (arrows). K, kidney; O, ovary; T, testis.

Neural Tube Expression

From the earliest stages of Hoxa11 expression, Hoxa11eGFP is observed in the neural tube (Figure 2B). By E11.5 Hoxa11eGFP is localized to ventrolateral regions of the neural tube, correlating with areas of motor neuron differentiation (Figure 6A). At E12.5 and E13.5 Hoxa11eGFP is observed in more dorsal and medial regions of the neural tube (Figure 6B, C). Control embryos do not show GFP fluorescence at similar fluorescent settings (Figure 6D and data not shown).

Figure 6.

Hoxa11eGFP fluorescence in the neural tube. A–C: Transverse cryosections through the sacral region of the neural tube of Hoxa11eGFP heterozygous embryos at E11.5 (A), E12.5 (B) and E13.5 (C). D: Transverse cryosection through the sacral region of the neural tube of a wild-type embryo at E13.5 photographed using the same fluorescence settings as for C. Scale bar indicates 200 microns in all panels.

To summarize, we have generated a novel Hoxa11eGFP targeted allele in mice. This allele closely recapitulates documented Hoxa11 mRNA expression patterns in the neural tube, limbs, and urogenital system, confirming that it is a faithful reporter of Hoxa11 expression. This mouse line will be useful for studies of the dynamic Hoxa11 localization patterns during both control (heterozygous) and mutant development. Furthermore, the allele is stable in fresh as well as fixed tissues, and therefore will be a valuable reagent for vital studies.

Experimental Procedures

Generation of the Hoxa11eGFP Allele in Mice

BAC clone RP23-20F21 that spans the entire HoxA complex was identified by screening the RPCI-23 C57Bl/6 library (Osoegawa et al., 2000). 10 kb of genomic sequences including coding sequence for Hoxa11, including 4.7 kb upstream of exon 1 and 0.7 kb downstream of exon 2 was sub-cloned using recombineering technology to an ASCL vector (Muyrers et al., 1999; Muyrers et al., 2004; McIntyre et al., 2007). An eGFP fluorescent fusion construct (eGFP, Clontech) was exchanged as an in-frame fusion 18 base pairs downstream of the start site in exon 1 of Hoxa11; this recombination event resulted in removal of most of exon 1. The eGFP fusion protein is followed by a SV40 poly-A strong stop signal, creating a null allele, which expresses eGFP in place of Hoxa11. Following the stop signal, there is a tACE-Cre-Neo^r (ACN) construct in the opposite orientation (Bunting et al., 1999). The Neo^r allows for selection of the ES cells after electroporation. The tACE-Cre drives expression of Cre from the testes-specific ACE promoter (Langford et al., 1991) and allows removal of the Cre and Neo^r sequences from the targeted locus during chimeric passage to germ line. The Cre coding sequence contains the SV40 small antigen intron which prevents leaky expression prior to germ-line transmission (Bunting et al., 1999). The ACN cassette is flanked by LoxP sites, allowing Cre-mediated excision of the cassette. TK was inserted 5′ to the genomic flanking sequence to provide positive selection and decrease random transgenic insertions of the targeting vector into non-homologous regions. (Figure 1A shows a schematic of the targeting vector.)

Figure 1.

Generation of Hoxa11eGFP targeted allele in mice. A: Schematic of the Hoxa11 genomic locus, Hoxa11eGFP targeting vector and Hoxa11eGFP allele. Exon 1 of Hoxa11 is replaced by eGFP followed by an SV40 T-antigen stop sequence and an ACN cassette in reverse orientation flanked by LoxP sites. A TK cassette is 5′ to the Hoxa11 genomic flanking sequence. ApaLI restriction sites are shown for the wild type allele as well as the Hoxa11eGFP targeted allele, and the sizes generated upon digest (used for Southern analysis). B: Southern analyses of Hoxa11eGFP targeted ES cells. Genomic DNA extracted from ES cells was digested with ApaLI and hybridized with either a 813 bp 5′ flanking probe or a 621 bp 3′ flanking probe. The 5′ probe detected 10.7 and 12.7 kb bands for wild type and mutant alleles, respectively. The 3′ probe detected 9.4 and 11.6 kb bands for wild type and mutant alleles, respectively. C: PCR genotyping of Hoxa11eGFP mice. The bottom 218 bp band is the wild type allele, and the top 405 bp band is the mutant Hoxa11eGFP allele. (Further details in Experimental Methods.)

The Hoxa11eGFP targeting vector was electroporated into R1 ES cells (Nagy et al., 1993), and double selection was performed with G418 and FIAU (Mansour et al., 1988). Surviving clones were analyzed by Southern analysis to identify homologous recombinants using a 5′ flanking probe, a 3′ flanking probe and a Neo^r probe with ApaL1 digested DNA (Figure 1B and data not shown). The 813 bp 5′ probe was generated using primers 5′ GTA TTT GAA TTC GAT GCC GAA CTG AGG CCA ATG GTT GT 3′ and 5′ AGC GTG TCT AGA GCT CTG CAG CAG AGC CGG ATA GAA AC 3′, and the 621 bp 3′ probe generated using primers 5′ CTC CTT TTG AAT TCG GAA TAG TCA GCG CTC TTG GGA CCC ACT 3′ and 5′ GCA CTC TGT CTA GAA GAG GAC ACA GGG AAG CTG ACC AGG TAG 3′, that were randomly labeled with ³²P-dCTP. Two positive clones were identified and injected into blastocysts. Twelve high-percentage, agouti chimeric founder males were generated and several transmitted the allele, all of which resulted in the removal of the ACN cassette. PCR analysis of tail DNA confirmed germ-line transmission of the allele and deletion of the ACN cassette (Figure 1C). Three founder lines were then back-crossed to C57Bl/6 mice. All founder lines were found to be indistinguishable in phenotype.

Genotyping was performed by PCR using either tail or yolk sac DNA. The following primers were used to detect a 218 bp band for the wild type allele, and a 405 bp band for the eGFP allele: Forward: 5′ CTA CTT CAC GGA TCC GCT TCA 3′, Reverse: 5′ GGT TGG AGG AGT AGG AGT ATG 3′, and eGFP reverse: 5′ ATG GTG CGC TCC TGG ACG TAG CCT T 3′ (Figure 1C).

Embryo Collection, IHC Experiments and Image Acquisition

Embryos were collected at various stages of gestation for analyses. After dissection in PBS, they were fixed in formalin or 4% paraformaldehyde. Whole mount images were taken on the Olympus SZX9 florescent dissecting microscope with an Olympus DP70 camera or the Leica MXFL III stereo fluorescent microscope with a Sony DKC5000 video-to-digital camera. After fixation, animals were equilibrated in 15% and then 30% sucrose, then embedded in Tissue-Tek O.C.T. Compound embedding medium on dry ice. Cryosections were cut at 16μm using a MICROM 500M Cryostat. For co-staining, sections were washed with PBSTw and blocked for 30 minutes with 2% sheep serum. Polyclonal rabbit anti-Pax2 (Covance, PRB-276P) was used in a 1:250 dilution, and polyclonal rabbit anti-Sox9 (Chemicon, AB5535) in a 1:500 dilution. Sections were incubated with primary antibody overnight at 4°C, rinsed with PBSTw, incubated with anti-rabbit TRITC (1:300 dilution) for 2–3 hours at room temperature, and rinsed with PBSTw. Rhodamine peanut agglutinin (PNA) (Vector Laboratories, RL-1072) was incubated at room temperature (1:400 dilution) for three hours, after blocking, then rinsed with PBSTw. ProLong® Gold, antifade reagent (Invitrogen) was used for mounting. Images were taken on either an Olympus BX-51 upright light microscope with an Olympus DP70 camera, or a Zeiss LSM 510-META Laser Scanning Confocal Microscope mounted on a Zeiss Axiovert 100M inverted microscope using an argon laser. All green fluorescence shown in figures are images showing direct detection of fluorescence of eGFP from the Hoxa11eGFP allele.

Whole Mount In Situ Hybridization

Embryos were treated as previously described (Huppert et al., 2005). Images were taken on a Leica MZ125 dissecting microscope with a Leica DFC480 camera.