GENETICALLY ENGINEERED MOUSE LACKING TUMOR SUPPRESSOR GENE IN THE BRAIN
UCLA Technology Available For Licensing

Mutation in the Pten tumor suppressor gene is associated with several human cancers and neurological abnormalities, such as enlarged brain (megacephaly), mental retardation, and malignant brain tumors. Inactivation of Pten in mouse models confirmed PTEN to be a bona fide tumor suppressor. However, since a null mutation of the gene leads to death during embryogenesis, there hasn't been a defined in vivo model for studying the exact functions of PTEN in brain development and tumor formation.

To overcome the early embryonic lethal phenotype in Pten-/- mice and to study the roles of PTEN in embryonic development, adult tissue function, and tumorigenesis, researchers at UCLA have generated a knockout mouse model with the Pten gene functionally deleted in neural stem cells. The mouse model can be used in the following applications: 1) preclinical screening for compounds with activities that target the PTEN controlled signaling pathways in treating cancer and other neurological abnormalities 2) stem cell research for understanding how PTEN is involved in neural stem cell development, neural regeneration, and neuronal differentiation.

Related Papers (Selected)
  • Wu H. Negative regulation of neural stem/progenitor cell proliferation by the Pten tumor suppressor gene in vivo. Science 2001 Dec 7; 294 (5549): 2186-9. more...
  • Wu H. Cre/loxP-Mediated Inactivation for the Murine Pten Tumor Suppressor Gene. Genesis 32: 148-149 (2002) more...
  • Penninger and Woodgett PTEN-Coupling Tumor Suppressor to Stem Cells? Science 2001 Dec 7; 294 (5549): 2116-2117. more...
  • Morrison Pten-uating neural growth. Nature Medicine 2002 8: 16-18. more...

    • Reference: UCLA Case No. 2003-053  

    For additional technical details and current licensing
    availability, please contact the following UCLA office:

    UCLA Office of Intellectual Property
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    Tel: 310-794-0558 Fax: 310-794-0638
    email: ncd@research.ucla.edu
    NCD URL:   http://www.research.ucla.edu/tech/ucla03-053.htm

    Lead Inventor: Hong Wu

    UCLA Technologies Available for Licensing
    http://www.research.ucla.edu/tech

    Copyright © 2002 The Regents of the University of California.

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