Generation of a conditional disruption of the Tsc2 gene.

Tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) is an autosomal dominant disorder caused by mutations in the TSC1 or TSC2 gene. Patients afflicted with TSC develop tumors in various organ systems, but cerebral pathology is particularly severe. Conventional gene disruption of the Tsc1 or Tsc2 gene in mice cause limited central nervous system pathology. Homozygous deletion of either gene causes midgestation lethality. To circumvent the homozygous lethality of the conventional Tsc2 knockout we have generated a conditional allele of the Tsc2 gene by homologous recombination in mouse ES cells. The homozygous Tsc2(flox/flox) mice are identical to wildtype in many organs typically affected by TSC, especially the brain. Using this Tsc2(flox) allele we have generated a null allele using Cre recombination. This allele will be useful in investigating TSC pathology with appropriate cell and organ specific Cre-transgenic mice.