The cadherin16 (CDH16) gene encodes a calcium-dependent membrane-associated glycoprotein. It belongs to the cadherin superfamily and is a cell adhesion molecule involved in embryonic development and growth. This protein is exclusively expressed in the kidneys, hence it is also known as kidney-specific calcium-binding protein (ksp-calmodulin). CDH16 plays a crucial role in homotypic cell recognition and contributes to tissue morphogenesis, particularly during the formation of renal tubules in embryonic development. In kidney development, CDH16 is specifically highly expressed in renal tubular epithelial cells of the kidneys and the genitourinary (GU) tract, where it plays an essential role in urine concentration and excretion. In adult mice, the expression of this gene is restricted to renal tubular epithelial cells. Mutations or functional abnormalities in the CDH16 gene may be associated with idiopathic renal tubular acidosis and uric acid nephropathy. The Cdh16-iCre mouse was generated by inserting an optimized codon-modified Cre recombinase (iCre) gene expression cassette into the endogenous Cdh16 gene of mice, driving its specific expression. The iCre recombinase expression pattern is similar to the endogenous gene, and the mouse Cdh16 gene expression remains unaffected. When the Cdh16-iCre mice are crossed with mice containing loxP sites, the offspring’s renal and genitourinary tract epithelial cells can undergo sequence recombination between loxP sites mediated by Cre recombinase.

The Cadherin 16 (CDH16) gene encodes a calcium-dependent, membrane-associated glycoprotein that belongs to the calmodulin superfamily. This cell adhesion molecule is involved in embryonic development and cell growth and is exclusively expressed in the kidney, where it is also known as kidney-specific calmodulin (ksp-calmodulin). CDH16 functions as a major mediator of homotypic cell recognition and plays a role in directing tissue morphogenesis, particularly in the formation of renal tubules during embryonic development. Cdh16-MerCreMer mice were generated by inserting a tamoxifen-inducible Cre recombinase protein (MerCreMer) expression element downstream of the stop codon of the mouse Cdh16 gene. The expression pattern of MerCreMer mirrored that of the endogenous gene. Before induction, MerCreMer was localized to the cytoplasm, and only after tamoxifen treatment could it translocate to the nucleus to exert its recombination effect. When bred with mice containing a loxP site-flanked sequence, Cre recombinase-mediated deletion of the flanked sequence will occur in the renal tubular epithelial cells of the offspring following tamoxifen induction.

Cdh16 is located on chromosome 8 of mice. Nuclease Technology will be used to design sgRNA; Cdh16 knockout mice will be obtained by applying high-throughput electroporation of fertilized eggs. After sexual maturity, sperm were collected for cryopreservation.

Mapk8ip2 is located on chromosome 15 of mice. SgRNA and ssDNA will be designed using Nuclease Technology; Mapk8ip2 conditional knockout mice will be obtained by high-throughput electroporation of fertilized eggs. After sexual maturity, sperm will be collected for cryopreservation.

Cdh16 is located on chromosome 8 of mice. SgRNA and ssDNA will be designed using Nuclease Technology; Cdh16 conditional knockout mice will be obtained by high-throughput electroporation of fertilized eggs. After sexual maturity, sperm will be collected for cryopreservation.