Rb1 Conditional Knockout mouse — retina specific context
The prototypic tumor suppressor Rb1, ortholog of human RB1, encodes a pocket protein whose A and B domains form a cleft that binds the transactivation domain of E2F1 through E2F3 and, through a separate LXCXE-binding groove, recruits histone deacetylases and chromatin modifiers as well as viral oncoproteins including E7 and large T antigen. Sequential phosphorylation by cyclin D with CDK4 or CDK6 and then cyclin E with CDK2 releases E2F and licenses S phase entry, the axis targeted by palbociclib, and biallelic loss causes retinoblastoma and is pervasive in small cell lung cancer. Germline deletion is embryonic lethal from placental and erythroid defects, so conditional nulls are standard, and phosphorylation site or LXCXE-cleft knockins separate CDK regulation from chromatin recruitment. Critically, the paralogs Rbl1 and Rbl2 compensate robustly in mouse retina and elsewhere, so compound conditional genetics is usually required to reproduce the human tumor spectrum.
Rb1 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 retina work, plan Cre specificity, reporter crosses, and baseline phenotyping before you scale.
Catalog options
Conditional knockout focuses the experiment on retina 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.
Designing a Rb1 Conditional Knockout allele
Because germline loss kills embryos through placental and erythroid failure, the conditional allele is the default, and it is worth remembering that even conditional deletion often does little alone: Rbl1 and Rbl2 substitute at many E2F targets, so single-gene retinal deletion with Chx10-Cre gives hyperplasia rather than retinoblastoma unless Rbl2 is also removed. In lung, the productive design pairs floxed Rb1 with floxed Trp53 and delivers Cre by intratracheal adenovirus or lentivirus, which yields small cell carcinoma with neuroendocrine markers after a long latency; adding a Pten or Myc allele shortens it. Titrate viral dose, since initiation frequency drives tumor number and confounds survival comparisons. Confirm excision by PCR on sorted or laser captured tumor cells, then read out E2F target transcripts, EdU incorporation, Ascl1 and Neurod1 subtype markers, and absence of phosphorylated RB.
Pricing and quotes
The Rb1 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 Rb1 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 Rb1 Conditional Knockout mouse models are available?
When Rb1 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 Rb1 knockout embryonic lethal in mice?
It depends on background and allele design. Some Rb1 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 retina 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 retina specific, so we start driver selection there.
Do you ship live Rb1 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 Rb1?
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.