Ptgs2 (Cyclooxygenase-2) Luciferase Knock-In Mouse

Prostaglandin-endoperoxide synthase 2 (Ptgs2, also known as Cyclooxygenase-2 or Cox-2) is an enzyme involved in the biosynthesis of prostanoids. Aberrant Ptgs2 expression plays major causal and modulatory roles in various cancers, neurodegenerative diseases, and chronic and acute inflammation conditions. UCLA researchers have developed a transgenic mouse model with an insertion of the firefly luciferase reporter gene into the endogenous Ptgs2 locus. This results in concomitant expression of Ptgs2 and the luciferase reporter, allowing researchers to non-invasively monitor Ptgs2 expression in vivo.