This transgene comprises 5.2 kb of 5' flanking and promoter DNA from the bovine keratin 5 gene and a rabbit beta-globin intron followed by the Cre recombinase coding sequence joined in-frame to a mutated estrogen receptor ligand-binding domain (ERT) that recognizes 4-hydroxytamoxifen (4-OHT), but not endogenous estrogen (beta-17 estradiol), then by an SV40 poly(A) signal and two reversed copies of the ~1.2 kb HS4 5' insulator sequence from the chicken beta-globin gene. X-gal staining of tissues from 4-OHT treated mice from crosses of females with the transgene and males bearing the Cre reporter, Gt(ROSA)26Sor, demonstrated expression in all tissues expressing keratin 5 -- generally, in stratified and pseudo-stratified epithelia throughout the body.