B6;129-Terf2ip^tm1.1Tdl/J

These Rap1F mice harbor loxP sites flanking exon 2 (encoding the TRF2 binding domain) of the mouse Rap1 locus (also called mRap1, TRF2-interacting factor, Terf2ip, or telomeric repeat binding factor 2 interacting protein). Telomeres serve a dual role in protecting the chromosome ends from degradation/repair activities and in intracellular signaling for regulating cell proliferation. Mammalian telomeres are formed by tandem TTAGGG sequence repeats bound by a specialized complex of six telomere-associated proteins called the shelterin complex. As Rap1 is one of the components of shelterin, these Rap1F mutant mice may be useful in generating conditional mutations for studying the shelterin complex of telomeres, telomere maintenance, chromosomal stability, cancer, and aging.