We, the Experimental Animal Division, RIKEN BioResource Center, regret to inform you that the TOP-EGFP strain (RBRC02229) which was sent to you was a wrong strain. We sent you TP1-Venus strain, instead. The TP1-Venus was mistakenly deposited as TOP-EGFP by a depositor and we did not recognize this mistake until the depositor informed us on July 9, 2013. We understand that a mistake of the mouse strain may cause serious scientific damage. But, it is our hope that the damage is the minimum.
Unfortunately, neither the depositor nor we have the authentic TOP-EGFP strain. However, we have TOP-GAL (RBRC02228) which can be used as a replacement of TOP-EGFP and expresses β-galactosidase instead of EGFP under the control of the TOP promoter. If you would like to use TOP-GAL mice, we will provide you the mice as a replacement.
If you have published a scientific paper using the TOP-EGFP mice, please let us know. If you need, we will send a letter to an editor of a journal and explain the details of this incident.
The mouse was deposited as TOP-EGFP at RIKEN BRC on May 15, 2007. Since then, we have genotyped by using the PCR primer designed to amplify only a part of EGFP gene as instructed by the depositor and distributed the mice to scientists in Japan and abroad. Immediately after report of the mistake of this mouse strain from the depositor on July 9, 2013, we analyzed DNA samples of deposited mice and confirmed that the strain was indeed TP1-Venus.
Provision of authentic mouse strains is the most important task for us. Through this unfortunate lesson, we have established transgene-specific PCR tests which detect the promoter and the gene driven by the promoter as the preventive measures so that we never distribute mouse resources with such defects again. We appreciate you for your support and understanding for our activities.
If you have any question and concern on this matter, please feel free to contact us (animal.brc@riken.jp).
