The authors thank the staff of the Morphology and Imaging core, of the Molecular Genetics core (Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences) and of the Mouse Genetics Core at Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine. The authors are supported by the small grant program from The McDonnell Center for Cellular and Molecular Neurobiology, the Hope Center for Neurological Disorders, the National Eye Institute (#R01EY022632 to D.H.), a National Eye Institute Center Core Grant (#P30EY002687) and an unrestricted grant from Research to Prevent Blindness to the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences.

Ethics Statement: Procedures involving animal subjects were approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) at Washington University in St. Louis.
1. Mouse Breeding and Genotyping
<ol>
	<li>Breed Tg(CAG-LacZ/EGFP-KASH2) mice with Tg(PCP2-Cre) mice to produce Tg(PCP2CreCAG-EGFP/KASH2) 19,20. Note: While the remainder of this protocol focuses on the use of the Tg(PCP2-Cre) mouse line to restrict EGFP-KASH2 expression to Purkinje cells within the cerebe...

<ol>
	<li>Hutchison, C. J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Lamins:+building+blocks+or+regulators+of+gene+expression?+Nature+reviews.">Lamins: building blocks or regulators of gene expression? Nature reviews.</a> Molecular cell biology. 3, 848-858 (2002).</li><li>Stuurman, N., Heins, S., Aebi, U. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Nuclear+lamins:+their+structure,+assembly,+and+interactions.">Nuclear lamins: their structure, assembly, and interactions.</a> Journal of structural biology. 122, 42-66 (1998).</li><li>Crisp, M., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Coupling+of+the+nucleus+and+cytoplasm:+role+of+the+LINC+complex.">Coupling of the nucleus and cytoplasm: role of the LINC complex.</a> The Journal of cell biology. 172, 41-53 (2006).</li><li>Haque, F., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=SUN1+interacts+with+nuclear+lamin+A+and+cytoplasmic+nesprins+to+provide+a+physical+connection+between+the+nuclear+lamina+and+the+cytoskeleton.">SUN1 interacts with nuclear lamin A and cytoplasmic nesprins to provide a physical connection between the nuclear lamina and the cytoskeleton.</a> Molecular and cellular biology. 26, 3738-3751 (2006).</li><li>Hodzic, D. M., Yeater, D. B., Bengtsson, L., Otto, H., Stahl, P. D. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Sun2+is+a+novel+mammalian+inner+nuclear+membrane+protein.">Sun2 is a novel mammalian inner nuclear membrane protein.</a> The Journal of biological chemistry. 279, 25805-25812 (2004).</li><li>Starr, D. A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=KASH+and+SUN+proteins.">KASH and SUN proteins.</a> Current biology : CB. 21, R414-R415 (2011).</li><li>Mellad, J. A., Warren, D. T., Shanahan, C. M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Nesprins+LINC+the+nucleus+and+cytoskeleton.">Nesprins LINC the nucleus and cytoskeleton.</a> Current opinion in cell biology. 23, 47-54 (2011).</li><li>Fridolfsson, H. N., Starr, D. A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Kinesin-1+and+dynein+at+the+nuclear+envelope+mediate+the+bidirectional+migrations+of+nuclei.">Kinesin-1 and dynein at the nuclear envelope mediate the bidirectional migrations of nuclei.</a> The Journal of cell biology. 191, 115-128 (2010).</li><li>Meyerzon, M., Fridolfsson, H. N., Ly, N., McNally, F. J., Starr, D. A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=UNC-83+is+a+nuclear-specific+cargo+adaptor+for+kinesin-1-mediated+nuclear+migration.">UNC-83 is a nuclear-specific cargo adaptor for kinesin-1-mediated nuclear migration.</a> Development. 136, 2725-2733 (2009).</li><li>Padmakumar, V. C., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Enaptin,+a+giant+actin-binding+protein,+is+an+element+of+the+nuclear+membrane+and+the+actin+cytoskeleton.">Enaptin, a giant actin-binding protein, is an element of the nuclear membrane and the actin cytoskeleton.</a> Experimental cell research. 295, 330-339 (2004).</li><li>Roux, K. J., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Nesprin+4+is+an+outer+nuclear+membrane+protein+that+can+induce+kinesin-mediated+cell+polarization.">Nesprin 4 is an outer nuclear membrane protein that can induce kinesin-mediated cell polarization.</a> Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. 106, 2194-2199 (2009).</li><li>Wilhelmsen, K., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=a+novel+outer+nuclear+membrane+protein,+associates+with+the+cytoskeletal+linker+protein+plectin.">a novel outer nuclear membrane protein, associates with the cytoskeletal linker protein plectin.</a> The Journal of cell biology. 171, 799-810 (2005).</li><li>Wilson, M. H., Holzbaur, E. L. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Nesprins+anchor+kinesin-1+motors+to+the+nucleus+to+drive+nuclear+distribution+in+muscle+cells.">Nesprins anchor kinesin-1 motors to the nucleus to drive nuclear distribution in muscle cells.</a> Development. 142, 218-228 (2015).</li><li>Yu, J., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=KASH+protein+Syne-2/Nesprin-2+and+SUN+proteins+SUN1/2+mediate+nuclear+migration+during+mammalian+retinal+development.">KASH protein Syne-2/Nesprin-2 and SUN proteins SUN1/2 mediate nuclear migration during mammalian retinal development.</a> Human molecular genetics. 20, 1061-1073 (2011).</li><li>Zhang, X., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Syne-1+and+Syne-2+play+crucial+roles+in+myonuclear+anchorage+and+motor+neuron+innervation.">Syne-1 and Syne-2 play crucial roles in myonuclear anchorage and motor neuron innervation.</a> Development. 134, 901-908 (2007).</li><li>Zhang, J., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Nesprin+1+is+critical+for+nuclear+positioning+and+anchorage.">Nesprin 1 is critical for nuclear positioning and anchorage.</a> Human molecular genetics. 19, 329-341 (2010).</li><li>Stewart-Hutchinson, P. J., Hale, C. M., Wirtz, D., Hodzic, D. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Structural+requirements+for+the+assembly+of+LINC+complexes+and+their+function+in+cellular+mechanical+stiffness.">Structural requirements for the assembly of LINC complexes and their function in cellular mechanical stiffness.</a> Experimental cell research. 314, 1892-1905 (2008).</li><li>Zhang, X., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=SUN1/2+and+Syne/Nesprin-1/2+complexes+connect+centrosome+to+the+nucleus+during+neurogenesis+and+neuronal+migration+in+mice.">SUN1/2 and Syne/Nesprin-1/2 complexes connect centrosome to the nucleus during neurogenesis and neuronal migration in mice.</a> Neuron. 64, 173-187 (2009).</li><li>Razafsky, D., Hodzic, D. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Temporal+and+tissue-specific+disruption+of+LINC+complexes+in+vivo.">Temporal and tissue-specific disruption of LINC complexes in vivo.</a> Genesis. 52, 359-365 (2014).</li><li>Razafsky, D., Hodzic, D. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=A+variant+of+Nesprin1+giant+devoid+of+KASH+domain+underlies+the+molecular+etiology+of+autosomal+recessive+cerebellar+ataxia+type+I.">A variant of Nesprin1 giant devoid of KASH domain underlies the molecular etiology of autosomal recessive cerebellar ataxia type I.</a> Neurobiology of disease. 78, 57-67 (2015).</li><li>Razafsky, D., Blecher, N., Markov, A., Stewart-Hutchinson, P. J., Hodzic, D. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=LINC+complexes+mediate+the+positioning+of+cone+photoreceptor+nuclei+in+mouse+retina.">LINC complexes mediate the positioning of cone photoreceptor nuclei in mouse retina.</a> PloS one. 7, e47180 (2012).</li><li>Razafsky, D. S., Ward, C. L., Kolb, T., Hodzic, D. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Developmental+regulation+of+linkers+of+the+nucleoskeleton+to+the+cytoskeleton+during+mouse+postnatal+retinogenesis.">Developmental regulation of linkers of the nucleoskeleton to the cytoskeleton during mouse postnatal retinogenesis.</a> Nucleus. 4, 399-409 (2013).</li></ol>

The authors have nothing to disclose.

The most critical step to successfully study the role of LINC complexes in vivo using the Tg(CAG-LacZ/EGFP-KASH2) model is to identify a suitable Cre mouse line(s). Indeed, if Cre is active in other cell-types involved in similar pathways, it can complicate the interpretation of the results. Hence, it is important to examine nearby cells, as shown here in the molecular and granule cell layers of the cerebellum (Figure 2B). Likewise, to maximize any physiologically relevant phenotypes it is impor...

The nuclear envelope (NE) separates the nucleoplasm from the cytoplasm. It is composed of an inner and outer nuclear membrane (INM and ONM, respectively) that connect at nuclear pores. The lumen delineated by both membranes is called the perinuclear space (PNS). The ONM is an extension of the rough endoplasmic reticulum (ER), and the INM adheres to the nuclear lamina, a meshwork of nuclear type-V intermediate filaments represented by A- and B-type lamins 1,2. LInkers of the Nucleoskeleton and Cytoskeleton (LINC) complexes are macromolecular assemblies that span the whole nuclear envelope to physically connect the interior of the nucleus to cytoskeletal filaments and molecular motors (Figure 1A). They consist of interactions between evolutionarily conserved motifs that characterize two families of integral transmembrane proteins of the NE: Sun (Sad1/Unc84) proteins and Nesprins (Nuclear Envelope SPectRINS). In mammals, Sun1 and Sun2 are transmembrane proteins of the INM whose N-terminal nucleoplasmic region interacts directly with A- and B-type lamins 3-5. On the other side of the INM, within the PNS, Sun proteins harbor an evolutionary-conserved stretch of ~150 C-terminal amino acids called the SUN domain. SUN domains interact directly with the evolutionary-conserved KASH (Klarsicht/Anc-1, Syne Homology) domain, the molecular signature of Nesprins. KASH domains consist of a stretch of ~30 C-terminal amino acids that protrudes into the PNS followed by a transmembrane domain 6. At least four distinct Nesprin genes (Nesprin1-4) encode KASH-containing proteins that localize at the NE 7. The cytoplasmic regions of Nesprins, whose sizes vary from ~50kDa (Nesprin4) to an astonishing 1,000 kDa (Nesprin1 giant), contain multiple spectrin repeats as well as specific motifs enabling their interaction with cytoskeletal components such as actin, plectin and molecular motors8-13.
Studies in vertebrates and invertebrates have shown that Lamin/Sun/Nesprin/molecular motors constitute an evolutionarily conserved &#8220;axis&#8221; controlling nuclear migration and anchorage. Several knock-out (KO) mouse models of LINC complex components have been described and were instrumental in providing a framework to understand the roles of Sun and Nesprin proteins at the NE during mammalian development 9,14,15. However, these models present several significant drawbacks, most notably: 1) difficulty in interpreting phenotypes due to cell non-autonomous effects, 2) difficulty in distinguishing the phenotypical contributions of KASH-containing vs. KASH-less Nesprin isoforms16, 3) the functional redundancy of Sun and Nesprin proteins at the NE in numerous cell types requires complex breeding schemes to inactivate all SUN-KASH interactions in mice 17 and 4) the perinatal lethality of mice deficient for the KASH-domain of both Nesprins1 and 2 precludes the analysis of adult phenotypes 18.
This protocol describes a novel mouse model designed to disrupt all SUN-KASH interactions in&#160;vivo, in a cell autonomous and developmentally regulated manner, thus bypassing many of the drawbacks outlined above. This Cre/lox-based mouse model relies on two important concepts: 1) the KASH domain of any known Nesprin protein is sufficient to target EGFP to the NE in cell culture systems and 2) SUN domains interact promiscuously with KASH domains, thus overexpression of any KASH domain will saturate all endogenous SUN domains and inactivate LINC complexes in a dominant-negative manner 17 (Figure 1B). This protocol describes tissue harvesting and processing steps used to confirm the disruption of all SUN-KASH interactions in cerebellar Purkinje cells.

<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0">
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td>Sucrose</td>
			<td>Sigma Aldrich</td>
			<td>S0389</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>10x PBS</td>
			<td>Gibco</td>
			<td>14200-075</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>16% Paraformaldehyde Solution</td>
			<td>Electron Microscopy Sciences</td>
			<td>15710</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>OCT Compound</td>
			<td>Tissue-Tek</td>
			<td>4583</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Adhesion Slides</td>
			<td>StatLab</td>
			<td>M1000W</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Donkey Serum</td>
			<td>Sigma Aldrich</td>
			<td>D9663</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Triton X-100</td>
			<td>Sigma Aldrich</td>
			<td>T9284</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>ImmuEdge Pen</td>
			<td>Vector Laboratories</td>
			<td>H-4000</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Anti-Calbindin Antibody</td>
			<td>Sigma Aldrich</td>
			<td>C9848</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Anti-EGFP Antibody</td>
			<td>Abcam</td>
			<td>ab13970</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Anti-Nesprin2 Antibody</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td>Previously described in Ref. 21</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Fluorescent Mounting Media</td>
			<td>Dako</td>
			<td>S3023</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>2-methyl butane</td>
			<td>Sigma Aldrich</td>
			<td>O3551</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

validation of a mouse model to disrupt linc complexes in a cell-specific manner

Nuclear migration and anchorage within developing and adult tissues relies heavily upon large macromolecular protein assemblies called LInkers of the Nucleoskeleton and Cytoskeleton (LINC complexes). These protein scaffolds span the nuclear envelope and connect the interior of the nucleus to components of the surrounding cytoplasmic cytoskeleton. LINC complexes consist of two evolutionary-conserved protein families, Sun proteins and Nesprins that harbor C-terminal molecular signature motifs called the SUN and KASH domains, respectively. Sun proteins are transmembrane proteins of the inner nuclear membrane whose N-terminal nucleoplasmic domain interacts with the nuclear lamina while their C-terminal SUN domains protrudes into the perinuclear space and interacts with the KASH domain of Nesprins. Canonical Nesprin isoforms have a variable sized N-terminus that projects into the cytoplasm and interacts with components of the cytoskeleton. This protocol describes the validation of a dominant-negative transgenic mouse strategy that disrupts endogenous SUN/KASH interactions in a cell-type specific manner. Our approach is based on the Cre/Lox system that bypasses many drawbacks such as perinatal lethality and cell nonautonomous phenotypes that are associated with germline models of LINC complex inactivation. For this reason, this model provides a useful tool to understand the role of LINC complexes during development and homeostasis in a wide array of tissues.

This protocol illustrates the usefulness of the Tg(CAG-LacZ/EGFP-KASH2) mouse model to restrict EGFP-KASH2 expression to cerebellar Purkinje cells using Tg(PCP2-Cre) mice. In Tg(PCP2CreCAG-EGFP/KASH2) offspring, the LacZ/V5 open reading frame is excised at P6 by the Cre recombinase thereby leading to the expression of EGFP-KASH2 specifically targeted to Purkinje cells (Figure 2A). As expected, EGFP-KASH2 is targeted to the nuclear envelope as indicated by the EGFP-positive rim-like pattern obs...

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Validation of a Mouse Model to Disrupt LINC Complexes in a Cell-specific Manner

Nuclear envelope proteins play a central role in many basic biological processes and have been implicated in a variety of human diseases. This protocol describes a new Cre/Lox-based mouse model that allows for the spatiotemporal control of LINC complexes disruption.

Nuclear migration and anchorage within developing and adult tissues relies heavily upon large macromolecular protein assemblies called LInkers of the ...

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7.3K Views.  Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine. Nuclear envelope proteins play a central role in many basic biological processes and have been implicated in a variety of human diseases. This protocol describes a new Cre/Lox-based mouse model that allows for the spatiotemporal control of LINC complexes disruption.