Htt Knockout mouse models
Huntington disease work centers on Htt, the mouse ortholog of human HTT, encoding huntingtin, a 350 kDa HEAT-repeat scaffold that organizes vesicular and axonal transport along microtubules through HAP1 and the dynein/dynactin machinery, sustains BDNF transcription by sequestering REST in the cytoplasm, and supports selective autophagy cargo recognition and ciliogenesis. Pathology follows CAG repeat expansion in exon 1 beyond roughly 36 units, generating an elongated polyglutamine tract that drives aggregation, aberrant exon 1 splicing into a highly toxic fragment, and somatic repeat instability in striatal medium spiny neurons through MSH3 and mismatch repair activity. Because complete Htt loss is embryonic lethal near gastrulation, conditional floxed alleles are mandatory for adult loss-of-function and lowering-safety studies, whereas full-length or humanized exon 1 CAG knockins preserve endogenous regulation for instability and biomarker endpoints far better than randomly integrated transgenes. Align allele class with endpoint, pairing neuron-restricted or striatum-restricted Cre drivers with region-specific silencing questions.
Htt null animals are straightforward to genotype and phenotype when survival is acceptable. They remain a standard background for pharmacology, biomarker, and rescue studies.
What Htt Knockout mouse models are available?
ingenious targeting laboratory offers 1 distinct Htt knockout catalog mouse model. Researchers can order pre-developed catalog lines or request a custom mouse model, including humanized, knockin, and transgenic variations with verified germline transmission.
Catalog table
| Model | Type | Category | Availability | Catalog # | Action |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Htt-KO | Knockout | KO/CKO mice, disease model mice | embryo cryopreservation | KO 226311 | Inquire |
Designing a Htt Knockout allele
The straight null answers only two things, and it is worth knowing which. Homozygotes arrest near gastrulation with defective extraembryonic and streak development, so the allele defines absolute requirement and supplies embryos and derived lines for cell-autonomous biochemistry, nothing more. The heterozygote is the underused half. Because most lowering strategies reduce wild-type along with mutant transcript, a lifelong fifty percent reduction is the cleanest available test of tolerability, so hemizygotes should be aged and phenotyped rather than merely genotyped. Construct the null by removing the promoter and first coding exon so no amino-terminal fragment persists; a graded hypomorphic series is more informative than a flat deletion when partial function is the question. Endpoints: embryo morphology at E7.5 through E8.5, then striatal volume, DARPP-32, neurotrophin transcript, and motor testing in heterozygotes.
A conventional knockout answers whether the gene is required broadly. When your target tissue is the organ of interest, a global null can still be informative if viability is acceptable and you want the simplest genotype. If the null is harsh, a floxed allele with a regional Cre is the safer long term platform.
Pricing and quotes
The Htt Knockout lines listed above are catalog models. Send us the catalog number and our team confirms current availability, pricing, and whether the line ships cryopreserved or live.
If your study needs a Htt allele configuration that is not listed above, our scientific team designs and generates it. Model generation quotes return in about twenty four hours with project milestones and pricing.
FAQ
What Htt Knockout mouse models are available?
When Htt Knockout lines are in catalog, we ship from inventory. If your configuration is not listed, we design the allele to order. Common paths include conditional knockout, constitutive knockout, humanized, knockin, and transgenic options, with documented germline transmission and United States QC.
Is Htt knockout embryonic lethal in mice?
It depends on background and allele design. Some Htt germline knockouts are viable. Others need conditional alleles or mixed backgrounds. We review publications and our own experience, then recommend floxed versus null before you commit.
Which Cre driver is best for experiments?
Driver choice depends on onset timing, recombination efficiency, and known leak. We map your organ and cell type to a short list of proven Cre lines, then talk through reporter crosses and controls. We favor drivers with strong community validation for your tissue.
Do you ship live Htt animals?
When catalog lines are live, we ship with health certificates and QC documentation. If your exact combo is not listed, we quote a generation project with cryo or live dispatch depending on cohort timing and geography.
How do I request a quote for Htt?
Use the catalog inquire buttons or the request quote form. Include your allele goal, Cre plan if any, strain background, and cohort size. A PhD led team responds with pricing, milestones, and the fastest path to experimental animals.