Ldlr Conditional Knockout mouse — liver specific context
Ldlr, the mouse ortholog of human LDLR, encodes the cell surface receptor that clears apoB-containing lipoproteins, built from seven class A cysteine-rich ligand-binding repeats, EGF-A and EGF-B modules flanking a beta-propeller that mediates acid-dependent ligand release, an O-linked sugar domain, and a cytoplasmic NPXY motif read by Ldlrap1 for clathrin-mediated internalization; Pcsk9 binding to EGF-A diverts the receptor to lysosomal degradation instead of recycling, and Mylip ubiquitination provides a sterol-responsive degradation route. Loss-of-function alleles cause familial hypercholesterolemia, and null mice are viable but develop hypercholesterolemia and atherosclerosis on Western diet, making them a standard cardiovascular platform. Allele choice follows the question: a null for plaque biology, patient point mutations for class-specific trafficking defects, and full humanization when the endpoint is PCSK9 antibody efficacy, siRNA silencing, or base editing of the human sequence. Combining with Apoe or Apobec1 alleles tunes lipoprotein profiles toward human-like distributions.
Ldlr conditional knockout mice carry a floxed allele so you delete function only where Cre is active. The germline allele stays intact until you cross to a tissue specific Cre. Labs reach for this design when a global knockout is lethal, when they need adult onset loss, or when regional redundancy hides a whole body phenotype. For liver work, plan Cre specificity, reporter crosses, and baseline phenotyping before you scale.
Catalog options
Conditional knockout focuses the experiment on liver while the rest of the animal keeps a wild type allele. That pattern mirrors somatic mutation in patients and avoids systemic compensation that can erase subtle phenotypes. It is often preferred when a germline null is lethal, weak, or confounded by developmental rescue.
| Model | Type | Category | Availability | Catalog # | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ldlr-Flox | Conditional Knockout | KO/CKO mice | live | CKO 210188 | Inquire |
Designing a Ldlr Conditional Knockout allele
A germline Ldlr null survives and produces the desired hypercholesterolemia, so a floxed allele is not a rescue from lethality but a tool for tissue attribution: hepatocytes handle most apoB particle clearance, and everything else, adrenal cortex, ovary, macrophage, endothelium, is normally invisible behind that hepatic signal. Flank the exons encoding ligand-binding repeats one through five so that the transcript cannot produce a receptor with residual apoB affinity, rather than trimming the cytoplasmic tail, which leaves a surface-retained binding-competent protein. Alb-Cre or AAV8-TBG-Cre gives hepatocyte-restricted loss, LysM-Cre addresses lesional macrophage uptake, and Cdh5-CreERT2 tests endothelial transcytosis. Watch mosaicism: incomplete hepatic recombination leaves enough receptor to blunt the plasma cholesterol rise, so quantify by DiI-LDL uptake in isolated hepatocytes and surface receptor flow cytometry, not genotype alone. Read out FPLC lipoprotein distribution alongside aortic root lesion area.
Pricing and quotes
The Ldlr Conditional 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 Ldlr allele configuration that is not listed above, our scientific team designs and generates it. Model generation quotes return in about twenty four hours with milestones for genotyping, QC, and dispatch.
FAQ
What Ldlr Conditional Knockout mouse models are available?
When Ldlr Conditional 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 Ldlr knockout embryonic lethal in mice?
It depends on background and allele design. Some Ldlr 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 liver specific focused 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. Your note points to liver specific, so we start driver selection there.
Do you ship live Ldlr 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 Ldlr?
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.