# Tumor-specific activation of transgene expression by Scd3 locus

> **NIH NIH R21** · UNIVERSITY OF CONNECTICUT SCH OF MED/DNT · 2021 · $230,010

## Abstract

Project Summary
 The development of genetically engineered mouse models (GEMMs) together with the advent of Cre-
LoxP technologies and tissue-specific promoters has become excellent tools to assess the functional roles of
cancer-associated genes. In recent years, several promoters have been successfully adapted to drive Cre
expression specifically within the intestinal epithelium. These promoters have proven useful for manipulating
gene expression in normal cells throughout intestinal tract; however, a genetic system that will specifically
target intestinal tumors for transgene expression has not yet been developed. Therefore, this exploratory
proposal aims to establish a novel mouse model in which the forced expression of a given transgene can be
re-introduced through tamoxifen-controlled Cre expression in intestinal tumors. To achieve tumor-specific
expression, we will use stearoyl-CoA desaturase (Scd)-3 gene locus as a promoter. We have recently found
that Scd3 was consistently up-regulated in intestinal tumors, but not in normal mucosa, suggesting that it may
serve as a specific intestinal tumor marker in mice. In Aim 1, we propose to generate Scd3-CreER+/- mice, and
Cre activity is validated using a reporter mice. Optimal timing and duration of Cre activity and the efficiency of
Cre-Lox recombination will be determined to establish a viable mouse model. In Aim 2, we will then
characterize the efficiency of Scd3-CreER system in ApcΔ14/+ tumor model. Finally, in Aim 3, we will extend our
analysis to chemically-induced colon cancer model to test the applicability of our Scd3-CreER+/- mice to
additional cancer etiologies. We believe that the successful generation of this experimental mouse system will
provide a way to test the impact of reactivation of suppressed tumor-associated genes directly within
neoplastic tissue, and also enable us to examine the therapeutic effects associated with the functional
restoration of the lost genes.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10070095
- **Project number:** 5R21CA245602-02
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF CONNECTICUT SCH OF MED/DNT
- **Principal Investigator:** Masako Nakanishi
- **Activity code:** R21 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $230,010
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2019-12-11 → 2023-11-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10070095

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10070095, Tumor-specific activation of transgene expression by Scd3 locus (5R21CA245602-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-06-11 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10070095. Licensed CC0.

---

*[NIH grants dataset](/datasets/nih-grants) · CC0 1.0*