Figure 1

Genotyping and characterization of neuron-specific and total GSK3α deficient mice. A. Genotyping by PCR reveals floxed or recombined (del) GSK3α alleles in AAC and AA- mice by the action of Cre-recombinase (Cre) (left panel). In GSK3α.KO mice (right panel) the same PCR reaction defines wild-type (WT) and recombined GSK3α alleles (del) in homozygous and heterozygous GSK3α.KO mice. B. Representative western blots for the GSK3 isozymes in total protein extracts of brain and lung from AA-, AAC, FvB and GSK3α.KO mice, as indicated. Note some residual GSK3α protein in the brain of AAC mice as opposed to the total absence in the GSK3α.KO mice. The minor non-specific reaction observed in extracts of lungs of GSK3α.KO mice was caused by a non-identified protein. C. Representative IHC of hippocampus, CA1 and cortex for either GSK3 isozyme on brain sections from both deficient genotypes and their respective control mice: AAC versus AA- mice and GSK3α.KO versus wild-type FvB mice. Note some residual GSK3α immunoreaction in the hippocampus of AAC mice, as opposed to total absence in GSK3α.KO mice (cfr text for details).