User:Amateur Wee/LoxP

LoxP is the acronym of locus of X-over P1. It is a 34 base pairs (bp) sequence comprised of two 13 bp inverted repeats flanking an 8 bp spacer region which confers directionality. And the 13bp inverted sequences is the binding domain for Cre recombinase. The seqences of loxP: 5' - ATAACTTCGTATA - ATGTATGC - TATACGAAGTTAT - 3' 3' - TATTGAAGCATAT - TACATACG - ATATGCTTCAATA - 5' Actually, it is often refered by Cre-loxP system which has been used to generate animals with mutations limited to certain cell types (tissue-specific knockout) or animals with mutations that can be activated by drug administration (inducible knockout) in a number of transgenic species. Recombination products are dependent on the location and relative orientation of the loxP sites. Two DNA species containing single loxP sites will be fused whilst DNA between loxP sites in the same orientation will be excised in circular form and DNA between opposing loxP sites will be inverted with respect to the rest of the DNA.