Targeted Deletion of AP-2α Leads to Disruption in Corneal Epithelial Cell Integrity and Defects in the Corneal Stroma

PURPOSE: The present study was undertaken to create a conditional knockout of AP-2alpha in the corneal epithelium. METHODS: A line of mice expressing Cre-recombinase specifically in the early lens placode was crossed with mice in which the AP-2alpha allele is flanked by two loxP sites. The resultant Le-AP-2alpha mutants exhibited a targeted deletion of AP-2alpha in lens placode derivatives, including the differentiating corneal epithelium.