GFP-LC3 mice are widely used to monitor autophagy. Here, we report chromosomal mapping of the GFP.LC3 transgene in this mouse model. The transgene was located in a very distal region of chromosome 2, immediately upstream of a putative open reading frame that is thought to be a part of a pseudogene. With this information, we were able to generate a PCR system to easily determine zygosity. Homozygous GFP-LC3 mice (GFP-LC3(tg/tg)) were healthy, fertile and did not show an abnormal phenotype. Thus, GFP-LC3 integration in this model appears not to affect functions of other genes, justifying use of this mouse model.
Animals Autophagy