Strain Name:
B6.Cg-Mitfmi-sp Mitfmi-vga9/Mmmh
Stock Number:
009963-MU
Citation ID:
RRID:MMRRC_009963-MU
Other Names:
Mouse microphthalmia transcription factor
Major Collection:

Strain Information

Mitfmi-sp
Name: melanogenesis associated transcription factor; microphthalmia spotted
Synonyms: sp, MITFsp
Type: Allele
Species: Mus musculus (mouse)
Chromosome: 6
Alteration at locus: Spontaneous Mutation
Mitf
Name: melanogenesis associated transcription factor
Synonyms: bHLHe32, wh, Gsfbcc2, BCC2, mi
Type: Gene
Species: Mouse
Chromosome: 6
Alteration at locus: Transgenic (random, gene disruption)
NCBI: 17342
HGNC: HGNC:7105
Homologene: 4892
Mitfmi-vga9
Name: transgenic insertion 9
Synonyms: VGA-9, VGA-9tg, VGA-9-tg
Type: Allele
Species: Mus musculus (mouse)
Chromosome: 6
Alteration at locus: Transgenic (random, gene disruption)
Genetic Alterations
This is a transgenic, knock-in mouse produced by Heinz Arnheitter.
Genotype Determination
Phenotype
Coat color is used to determine zygosity and the MMRRC PCR (genotyping assay) is used to confirm transgene integration.

Description of White Spotting mutants

Characteristics of the Mitf Locus:
Microphthalmia (Mitf) locus encodes the basic-helix-loop-helix-leucine zipper protein transcription factor MITF (Microphthalmia associated transcription factor). (9, 26, 27). Tissues/organs that may be affected (depending upon the allele) include pigmentation of the skin, pigmentation and development of the eye and ear, mast cells, osteoclasts, and reproductive cells. Mitf is an important transcription factor that functions to initiate transcription at several other loci within the pigment cell, including tyrosinase (tyr) and tyrosinase-related protein I (TyrpI.) and also regulates Bcl2. In other cell types, for example in osteoclasts and mast cells, Mitf functions as transcription factor of several cell-type specific proteins. There is no evidence that the size of white spots on mice mutant at Mitf are influenced by pheomelanin. However, mice that are both recessive yellow and Miwh/+ in genotype are much more eumelanic than mice that are yellow and +/+ (Lamoreux, 1981). Strain background does not appear to influence size or location of spots in mice mutant at Mitf.
Mammalian Phenotype Terms
Allelic Composition: Mitfmi-sp/Mitfmi-sp (Genetic Background: B6.Cg-MitfMi-wh/Mitfmi-sp/J )

Allelic Composition: MitfMi-wh/Mitfmi-sp (Genetic Background: B6.Cg-MitfMi-wh/Mitfmi-sp/J )

Allelic Composition: MitfMi/Mitfmi-sp (Genetic Background: B6.Cg-MitfMi/Mitfmi-sp )

Allelic Composition: MitfMi/Mitfmi-sp (Genetic Background: involves: C57BL/6J )

Allelic Composition: Mitfmi-vga9/Mitfmi-vga9 (Genetic Background: involves: C57BL/6 * CBA )

Allelic Composition: Mitfmi-vga9/Mitftm1Arnh (Genetic Background: involves: 129S1/Sv * C3H/He * C57BL/6 )

Allelic Composition: Mitftm5Arnh/Mitfmi-vga9 (Genetic Background: involves: 129S6/SvEvTac * C57BL/6 * C57BL/6N * CBA )

Allelic Composition: Mitftm4Arnh/Mitfmi-vga9 (Genetic Background: involves: 129S6/SvEvTac * C57BL/6 * C57BL/6N * CBA )

Allelic Composition: Mitftm6Arnh/Mitfmi-vga9 (Genetic Background: involves: 129S6/SvEvTac * C57BL/6 * C57BL/6N * CBA )

Allelic Composition: Mitftm7Arnh/Mitfmi-vga9 (Genetic Background: involves: 129S6/SvEvTac * C57BL/6 * C57BL/6N * CBA )

MeSH Terms
  • Alternative Splicing
  • Animals
  • Base Sequence
  • DNA-Binding Proteins/pharmacology
  • Gene Expression Regulation
  • Genes, Reporter
  • Melanocytes/physiology
  • Mice
  • Microphthalmia-Associated Transcription Factor
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Mutation
  • Transcription Factors
  • Alleles
  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • DNA-Binding Proteins/chemistry
  • DNA-Binding Proteins/genetics
  • Deafness/genetics
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Eye Color/genetics
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental
  • Genes, Dominant
  • Hair Color/genetics
  • Helix-Loop-Helix Motifs
  • Humans
  • Leucine Zippers
  • Mast Cells/pathology
  • Melanocytes/pathology
  • Mice, Inbred Strains
  • Mice, Mutant Strains
  • Microphthalmos/genetics
  • Models, Molecular
  • Neural Crest/pathology
  • Osteopetrosis/genetics
  • Phenotype
  • Protein Conformation
  • RNA Splicing
  • Tooth Abnormalities/genetics
  • Waardenburg Syndrome/classification
  • Waardenburg Syndrome/genetics
  • Chromosome Mapping
  • Chromosomes, Human, Pair 3
  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • Genes
  • Hybrid Cells
  • In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence
  • Leucine Zippers/genetics
  • Male
  • Pigmentation Disorders/genetics
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Sequence Alignment
  • Sequence Homology
Strain Development
The mice were backcross to C57BL/6 approximately seven generations, followed by intercrossing for approximately four generations. In January 2003 they were backcrossed using B6-mi*sp and this backcrossing continued to the mice that were shipped to MMRRC in 2004.
Suggested Control Mice
  • Wildtype littermates
MMRRC Genetic QC Summary
The MMRRC Centers have developed a genetic QC pipeline using MiniMUGA array genotyping to provide additional information on strain backgrounds for MMRRC congenic and inbred strains. For more information on when data may be available, or to request genotyping for a strain of interest, please contact mmrrc@missouri.edu. Older strains may not have this information.
  • Pigmentation
  • Neural Crest Development
  • Cell Survival
  • Development of Eye
  • Deafness
  • Peristalsis
  • Mast Cells
  • Osteoclasts
  • Reproductive Cells
  • Transcription Factors
  • Important Regulatory Molecular
Donor
Dr. M. L. Lamoreux, Texas A&M University
Primary Reference
  • Hemesath TJ, Steingrimsson E, McGill G, Hansen MJ, Vaught J, Hodgkinson CA, Arnheiter H, Copeland NG, Jenkins NA, Fisher DE. microphthalmia, a critical factor in melanocyte development, defines a discrete transcription factor family. Genes Dev. 1994 Nov 15;8(22):2770-80. (Medline PMID: 7958932)
  • Steingrimsson E, Moore KJ, Lamoreux ML, Ferre-D'Amare AR, Burley SK, Zimring DC, Skow LC, Hodgkinson CA, Arnheiter H, Copeland NG. Molecular basis of mouse microphthalmia (mi) mutations helps explain their developmental and phenotypic consequences. Nat Genet. 1994 Nov;8(3):256-63. (Medline PMID: 7874168)
  • Tachibana M, Perez-Jurado LA, Nakayama A, Hodgkinson CA, Li X, Schneider M, Miki T, Fex J, Francke U, Arnheiter H. Cloning of MITF, the human homolog of the mouse microphthalmia gene and assignment to chromosome 3p14.1-p12.3. Hum Mol Genet. 1994 Apr;3(4):553-7. (Medline PMID: 8069297)

Colony and Husbandry Information

Colony Surveillance Program and Current Health Reports

Mice recovered from a cryo-archive will have health surveillance performed on recipient females. Health reports will be provided prior to shipment. If you require additional health status information, please email mmrrc@missouri.edu.
Coat Color
See photo and strain description
MMRRC Breeding System
Sib mating
Breeding Scheme(s)
  • Wildtype littermate female x Heterozygous male
  • Heterozygous female x Wildtype littermate male
Generation
N>10
Overall Breeding Performance
Good
Average litter size
6
Recommended wean age
3 - 4 weeks

Order Request Information

Limited quantities of breeder mice (recovered litter) are available from a cryoarchive; recovered litter usually available to ship in 3 to 4 months.

Cryopreserved material may be available upon request, please inquire to mmrrc@missouri.edu for more information.

Distribution of this strain requires submission of the MMRRC Conditions of Use (COU). A link to the COU web form will be provided via email after an order has been placed; the form should be completed then or the email forwarded to your institutional official for completion.

Additional charges may apply for any special requests. Shipping costs are in addition to the basic distribution/resuscitation fees. Information on shipping costs and any additional charges will be provided by the supplying MMRRC facility.

Click button to Request this one strain. (Use the MMRRC Catalog Search to request more than one strain.)
MMRRC Item # Description Distribution Fee / Unit (US $)
*Shipping & Handling not included*
Units Notes
009963-MU-EMBRYO Cryo-preserved embryos $1,038.00 / $2,621.00
Non-Profit / For-Profit
Aliquot Approximate quantity2 : 20-40 embryos / aliquot
009963-MU-SPERM Cryo-preserved spermatozoa $437.00 / $817.00
Non-Profit / For-Profit
Aliquot Approximate quantity3
009963-MU-RESUS Litter recovered from cryo-archive $2,016.00 / $4,103.00
Non-Profit / For-Profit
Litter Recovered litter4; additional fees for any special requests.

1 The distribution fee covers the expense of rederiving mice from a live mouse; you will receive the resulting litter. The litter will contain at minimum one mutant carrier; the actual number of animals and the gender and genotype ratios will vary. (Typically, multiple breeder pairs can be established from the recovered litter.) Prior to shipment, the MMRRC will provide information about the animals recovered. If you anticipate or find that you need to request specific genotypes, genders or quantities of mice in excess of what is likely from a resuscitated litter, you may discuss available options and pricing with the supplying MMRRC facility.

2 An aliquot contains a sufficient number of embryos (in one or more vials or straws and based on the transfer success rate of the MMRRC facility) to transfer into one to three recipients. The MMRRC makes no guarantee concerning embryo transfer success experienced in the recipient investigator's laboratory. Neither gender nor genotype ratios are guaranteed.

3 An aliquot is one straw or vial with sufficient sperm to recover at least one litter of mice, as per provided protocols, when performed at the MMRRC facility. The MMRRC makes no guarantee concerning the success of these procedures when performed outside the MMRRC facilities.

4 The distribution fee covers the expense of resuscitating mice from the cryo-archive; you will receive the resulting litter. The litter will contain at minimum one mutant carrier; the actual number of animals and the gender and genotype ratios will vary. (Typically, multiple breeder pairs can be established from the recovered litter.) Prior to shipment, the MMRRC will provide information about the animals recovered. If you anticipate or find that you need to request specific genotypes, genders or quantities of mice in excess of what is likely from a resuscitated litter, you may discuss available options and pricing with the supplying MMRRC facility.

To request material from the MMRRC: Please fill out our on-line request form (accessible from the catalog search results page, or click the Request this Strain button in the fees section). If you have questions or need assistance completing this form, you may call Customer Service at (800) 910-2291 (in USA or Canada) or (530) 757-5710 (international calls). Before you call, please have with you: the MMRRC item number, quantity needed, Bill-to and Ship-to contact information.