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Recent biochemical studies revealed that ric-8 encodes a guanidine nucleotide factor for a subset of Gα proteins. Ric-8 is a key component of a signaling network in C.elegans that regulates neurotransmitter secretion and also plays a role in centrosome-mediated events uring early embryogenesis. Ric-8 is expressed throughout the nervous system, including the head ganglia and the ventral nerve cord, in both juveline and adult worms. Although the importance of Ric-8 for the nervous system in C.elegans is appreciated, its function in vivo in mammals has not been characterized yet. Our in situ experiments in mice brain showed the expression of ric-8 in the neocortex, hippocampus, and cerebellum as well as in the pineal gland and ependymal layer.Aim of this study is to clarify the role of Ric-8 in the mouse nervous system. Specific aims are:1. To generate conditional alleles of ric-8 gene to target ES cells2. To generate Cre recombinase mice for conditional knock-out in the expressed region(s) of the nervous system, if not available from other laboratories.3. To characterize a phenotype of the mouse strains received.The conditional knock-out of ric-8 gene will be done by Cre/loxP-recomination system. |