Sarcolipin in atrium-specific gene targeting

Abstract

The timely expression of transcriptional factors in a specific localization, which determines the cell’s fate, is critical to proper heart development. The Cre/loxP site-specific gene-targeting technique has contributed to the analysis of the functions of these transcriptional factors in the field of cardiovascular research. To analyze the role of certain genes more precisely, heart-specific gene targeting and chamber-specific gene targeting is needed, because the atrium and the ventricle of the heart have their own function, structure, gene expression, and even metabolic profile. In this review, we focused on sarcolipin (SLN), which is expressed in an atrium-specific manner. We generated an Sln Cre/+ mouse line by inserting Cre into the endogenous SLN locus by homologous recombination. Since Sln Cre/+ mice show a normal morphological and functional phenotype in the heart, Sln Cre/+ can be utilized for atrium-specific gene targeting to clarify the mechanisms of atrial development and pathogenesis. Understanding the precise mechanisms of heart development is also required to enable regenerative medicine to advance and induce proper atrial and/or ventricular myocytes. Here, we summarize the SLN function in the atrium, the phenotype in the Sln Cre/+ mouse atria we observed, and the future prospects of atrium-specific gene targeting.