A MODULAR SET OF FLP, FRT AND LACZ FUSION VECTORS FOR MANIPULATING GENES BY SITE-SPECIFIC RECOMBINATION

Site-specific recombinases can serve as powerful tools to target genet ic manipulations to specific cell populations in culture and in the or ganism. A series of vectors for engineering gene activation, deletion and integration in mammalian cells using Flp recombinase is described here. The vectors are modular in design so that specific cassettes can be linked depending on the application. Using these vectors, efficien t Flp-mediated lacZ activation and beta-galactosidase (beta Gal) detec tion has been demonstrated in mammalian cell culture. These vectors sh ould facilitate using Flp to mark cell populations, as well as to acti vate, remove or mutate genes in culture and in the mouse.