The β1 integrin gene was isolated from mouse RW4 genomic DNA, and a 5-kb BamHI restriction endonuclease fragment was subcloned and used for preparation of the targeting vector. Electroporations of DNAs into RW4 Agouti ES cells were carried out at 270 V, 500 mF in a GenePulser (Bio-Rad Laboratories). ES cells harboring the desired recombinations were injected into mouse C57BL blastocysts, which were then transferred to CD1 mothers. After breeding, heterozygous and homozygous mice were identified by PCR analysis of toe skin DNAs.