Lyz2-IRES-iCre Mouse

Lysozyme (LYZ) gene-encoded lysozyme is an antibacterial agent found in human milk and also exists in the spleen, lung, kidney, white blood cells, plasma, saliva, and tears. The protein has antibacterial activity against a variety of bacteria. Mutations in LYZ are associated with hereditary renal amyloidosis. Lyz2 is the ortholog of LYZ in mice, and its expressed tissues include the hematopoietic system, liver, mesothelium, small intestine, and yolk sac.

Lyz2-IRES-iCre mice carry an insertion of the IRES-iCre expression element, and when this strain of mice is crossed with mice containing the loxP locus, sequence recombination between loxP loci mediated by Cre recombinase can occur in the bone marrow lineage cells (monocytes, mature macrophages, and granulocytes) of the offspring mice. The homozygous Lyz2-IRES-iCre mice are viable and fertile.