AQR antibody

Background of AQR antibody

The gene trap screen methodology was used to identify and characterize a new and novel gene from retinoic acid dependent morphologically differentiated mouse embryonic stem cells, called Aquarious (AQR). The promoterless lacZ marker was used to trap the genomic locus and to determine the expression pattern of the gene. AQR transcripts are strongly induced in response to RA in vitro in mouse embryonic stem cells (1). The expression of AQR during embryogenesis was localized in the mesoderm and neuronal crest region and its target tissue and in neuroepithelium. Expression was first detected at 8.5 days postcoitum, when neural crest cells are visible at the lateral ridges of the neural plate.
The gene-trapped AQR locus was transmitted through the mouse germ line in three genetic backgrounds. The AQR gene ratio in the F2 generation was 1:2:1 as predicted by the mendalion distribution and was observed in all the backgrounds suggesting that homozygous mice are viable. The homozygous mice are normal in weight and size and breed normally. The gene trap insertion, however, does not seem to generate a null mutation, because AQR transcripts are still present in the homozygous mutant animals. The AQR open reading frame has weak homology to RNA-dependent RNA polymerases (RRPs) of the murine hepatitis viruses and contains an RRP motif. AQR was mapped to mouse chromosome 2 between regions E5 through F2 by using fluorescence in situ hybridization analysis. (1).