Induced overexpression of mitochondrial Mn-superoxide dismutase extends the life span of adult Drosophila melanogaster

A transgenic system ("FLP-out") based on yeast FLP recombinase allowed induced overexpression of MnSOD enzyme in adult Drosophila melanogaster. With FLP-out a brief heat pulse (HP) of young, adult flies triggered the rearrangement and subsequent expression of a MnSOD transgene throughout the adult life span. Control (no HP) and overexpressing (HP) flies had identical genetic backgrounds. The amount of MnSOD enzyme overexpression achieved varied among six independent transgenic lines, with increases up to 75%. Life span was increased in proportion to the increase in enzyme. Mean life span was increased by an average of 16%, with some lines showing 30-33% increases. Maximum life span was increased by an average of 15%, with one line showing as much as 37% increase. Simultaneous overexpression of catalase with MnSOD had no added benefit, consistent with previous observations that catalase is present in excess in the adult fly with regard to life span. Cu/ZnSOD overexpression also increases mean and maximum life span. For both MnSOD and Cu/ZnSOD lines, increased life span was not associated with decreased metabolic activity, as measured by O2 consumption.     

Attenuation of leukocyte-endothelium interaction by antioxidant enzymes

This report assessed the effect of overexpressing Cu,Zn superoxide dismutase (SOD) and/or catalase on the interaction of mononuclear cells (MNCs) and endothelial cells (ECs). ECs were obtained from the aorta of wild-type mice and transgenic mice overexpressing Cu,ZnSOD and/or catalase. MNCs were obtained from wild-type mice. Treatment of wild-type ECs with CuSO4-oxidized low-density lipoprotein (oxLDL) significantly elevated the expression of vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and increased the adherence of MNCs. Overexpression of Cu,ZnSOD and/or catalase in ECs attenuated the adherence of MNCs and the expression of cell adhesion molecules induced by oxLDL. For example, ECs overexpressing Cu,ZnSOD and/or catalase showed significantly less expression of VCAM-1 and ICAM-1 and less number of adherent MNCs than wild-type ECs. Moreover, ECs overexpressing Cu,ZnSOD and catalase in combination showed significantly less expression of VCAM-1 and ICAM-1 and less number of adherent MNCs than those overexpressing either Cu,ZnSOD or catalase alone. These results suggest that combinational overexpression of Cu,ZnSOD and catalase can reduce the expression of cell adhesion molecules and inhibit the adherence of leukocyte to ECs more efficiently than overexpression of Cu,ZnSOD or catalase alone.     

Coupled expression of Cu/Zn-superoxide dismutase and catalase in cassava improves tolerance against cold and drought stresses

Recently we reported that the joint expression of cassava Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase (MeCu/ZnSOD) and catalase (MeCAT1) prolonged the shelf life of cassava storage-roots by the stabilization of reactive oxygen species (ROS) homeostasis after harvest. Since oxidative damage is a major feature of plants exposed to environmental stresses, transgenic cassava showing increased expression of the cytosolic MeCu/ZnSOD and the peroxisomal MeCAT1 should have improved resistance against other abiotic stresses. After cold treatment, the transgenic cassava maintained higher SOD and CAT activities and lower malendialdehyde content than those of wild type plants (WT). Detached leaves of transgenic cassava also showed slower transpirational water loss than those of WT. When plants were not watered for 30 d, transgenic lines exhibited a significant increase in water retention ability, accumulated 13% more proline and 12% less malendialdehyde than WT’s, and showed enhanced activity of SOD and CAT. These results imply that manipulation of the antioxidative mechanism allows the development of staple crops with improved tolerance to abiotic stresses.     

Protection of insulin-producing cells against toxicity of dexamethasone by catalase overexpression

Pancreatic β cells are very sensitive to reactive oxygen species (ROS) and this might play an important role in β cell death in diabetes. Dexamethasone is a synthetic diabetogenic glucocorticoid, which impairs pancreatic β cell function. Therefore we investigated the toxicity of dexamethasone in RINm5F insulin-producing cells and its dependence on the expression level of the antioxidant enzyme catalase, which inactivates hydrogen peroxide. This was correlated with oxidative stress and cell death. An increased generation of ROS was observed in dexamethasone-treated cells together with an increase in caspase-3 activity and apoptosis rate. Interestingly, exposure to dexamethasone increased the cytosolic superoxide dismutase Cu/ZnSOD protein expression and activity, whereas the mitochondrial MnSOD isoform was not affected by the glucocorticoid. Catalase overexpression in insulin-producing cells prevented all the cytotoxic effects of dexamethasone. In conclusion, dexamethasone-induced cell death in insulin-producing cells is ROS mediated. Increased levels of expression and activity of the Cu/ZnSOD might favor the generation of hydrogen peroxide in dexamethasone-treated cells. Increased ROS scavenging capacity in insulin-producing cells, through overexpression of catalase, prevents a deleterious increase in hydrogen peroxide generation and thus prevents dexamethasone-induced apoptosis.     

Inducible ternary control of transgene expression and cell ablation in Drosophila

 In Drosophila, P-GAL4 enhancer trap lines can target expression of a cloned gene, under control of a UAS_GAL element, to any cells of interest. However, additional expression of GAL4 in other cells can produce unwanted lethality or side-effects, particularly when it drives expression of a toxic gene product. To target the toxic gene product ricin A chain specifically to adult neurons, we have superimposed a second layer of regulation on the GAL4 control. We have constructed flies in which an effector gene is separated from UAS_GAL by a polyadenylation site flanked by two FRT sites in the same orientation. A recombination event between the two FRT sites, catalysed by yeast FLP recombinase, brings the effector gene under control of UAS_GAL. Consequently, expression of the effector gene is turned on in that cell and its descendants, if they also express GAL4. Recombinase is supplied by heat shock induction of a FLP transgene, allowing both timing and frequency of recombination events to be regulated. Using a lacZ effector (reporter) to test the system, we have generated labelled clones in the embryonic mesoderm and shown that most recombination events occur soon after FLP recombinase is supplied. By substituting the ricin A chain gene for lacZ, we have performed mosaic cell ablations in one GAL4 line that marks the adult giant descending neurons, and in a second which marks mushroom body neurons. In a number of cases we observed loss of one or both the adult giant descending neurons, or of subsets of mushroom body neurons. In association with the mushroom body ablations, we also observed misrouting of surviving axons. Received: 17 December 1995 / Accepted: 6 March 1996 Edited by M. Akam     

Sequential inactivation of reactive oxygen species by combined overexpression of SOD isoforms and catalase in insulin-producing cells

Insulin-producing cells show very low activity levels of the cytoprotective enzymes catalase, glutathione peroxidase, and superoxide dismutase. This weak antioxidative defense status has been considered a major feature of the poor resistance against oxidative stress. Therefore, we analyzed the protective effect of a combined overexpression of Cu,ZnSOD or MnSOD together with different levels of catalase. Catalase alone was able to increase the resistance of transfected RINm5F insulin-producing tissue culture cells against H(2)O(2) and HX/XO, but no protection was seen in the case of menadione. In combination with an increase of the MnSOD or Cu,ZnSOD expression, the protective action of catalase overexpression could be further increased and extended to the toxicity of menadione. Thus, optimal protection of insulin-producing cells against oxidative stress-mediated toxicity requires a combined overexpression of both superoxide- and hydrogen peroxide-inactivating enzymes. This treatment can compensate for the constitutively low level of antioxidant enzyme expression in insulin-producing cells and may provide an improved protection in situations of free radical-mediated destruction of pancreatic beta cells in the process of autoimmune diabetes development.     

Highly efficient and inducible DNA excision in transgenic silkworms using the FLP/<Emphasis Type="Italic">FRT</Emphasis> site-specific recombination system

Efficient and inducible recombinase-mediated DNA excision is an optimal technology for automatically deleting unwanted DNA sequences, including selection marker genes. However, this methodology has yet to be established in transgenic silkworms. To achieve efficient and inducible FLP recombinase-mediated DNA excision in transgenic silkworms, one transgenic target strain (TTS) containing an FRT-flanked silkworm cytoplasmic actin 3 gene promoter (A3)-enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) expression cassette, as well as two different types of FLP recombinase expression helper strains were generated. Then, the FLP recombinase was introduced into the TTS silkworms by pre-blastoderm microinjection and sexual hybridization. Successful recombinase-mediated deletion of the A3-EGFP expression cassette was observed in the offspring of the TTS, and the excision efficiencies of the FLP expression vector and FLP mRNA pre-blastoderm microinjection were 2.38 and 13.3 %, respectively. The excision efficiencies resulting from hybridization between the TTS and the helper strain that contained a heat shock protein 70 (Hsp70)-FLP expression cassette ranged from 32.14 to 36.67 % after heat shock treatment, while the excision efficiencies resulting from hybridization between the TTS and the helper strain containing the A3-FLP expression cassette ranged from 97.01 to 100 %. These results demonstrate that the FLP/FRT system can be used to achieve highly efficient and inducible post-integration excision of unwanted DNA sequences in transgenic silkworms in vivo. Our present study will facilitate the development and application of the FLP/FRT system for the functional analysis of unknown genes, and establish the safety of transgenic technologies in the silkworm and other lepidopteran species.     

Effect of Cu content on the activity of Cu/ZnSOD1 in the Arabidopsis SUMO E3 ligase siz1 mutant

In a previous study, we found copper (Cu) accumulated to a higher level in the aerial parts of soil-grown plants of the SUMO E3 ligase siz1 mutant than in those of the wild-type. Here, we found that all superoxide dismutase (SOD) isoforms, such as FeSOD, MnSOD and different types of Cu/ZnSOD, were more active in the siz1 mutant than in the wild type under normal growth conditions. We further examined the expression and enzymatic activity of Cu/ZnSOD1 (CSD1) in shoots of the siz1 mutant under excess Cu. Shoot CSD1 protein level and activity were reduced in siz1 with excess Cu but induced in the wild type. SIZ1-dependent SUMOylation may be involved in maintaining CSD1 protein stability or repelling a feedback regulation under Cu stress.Key words: Cu/Zn SOD, CSD1, SUMO E3 ligase, SIZ1, Cu stress     

Elimination of marker genes and targeted integration via FLP/<Emphasis Type="BoldItalic">FRT</Emphasis> recombination system from yeast in hybrid aspen (<Emphasis Type="BoldItalic">Populus tremula</Emphasis> L. × <Emphasis Type="Italic">P. tremuloides</Emphasis> Michx.)

Marker gene elimination was investigated in hybrid aspen (Populus tremula L. × Populus tremuloides Michx.) using the FLP/FRT recombination system. The construct contained the FLP recombinase under control of a heat inducible promoter, the antibiotic resistance gene nptII driven by the CaMV 35S promoter, and a promoterless uidA gene. The construct was integrated into poplar via Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. The active FLP recombinase excised the nptII marker gene and combined the promoterless uidA gene with the CaMV 35S promoter to form an active uidA gene. For targeted transgene integration, two constructs were used. The first one carried FLP under control of the heat-inducible Gmhsp17.5-E promoter from soybean as well as an active nptII gene flanked by two FRT sites; the second contained the promoterless bar selection marker gene also flanked by two FRT sites. Following transformation and induction of FLP, the enzyme mediated a site-specific recombination at the FRT sites of both constructs. This recombination leads to an excision of the FLP and nptII gene from the first as well as an excision of the promoterless bar gene from the second construct. The promoterless bar gene reintegrated exactly at the former position of the FLP and nptII genes in the first construct to form an active bar gene. The FLP/FRT recombination system from yeast forms a promising basis for the production of antibiotic-free transgenic plants and a useful tool for directed integration of transgenes into plant genomes.     

Production of Marker-free Transgenic Tobacco Plants by FLP/frt Recombination System

Selectable marker genes that usually encode antibiotic or herbicide resistances are widely used for the selection of transgenic plants, but they become unnecessary and undesirable after transformation selection. An important strategy to improve the transgenic plants' biosafety is to eliminate the marker genes after successful selection. In the FLP/frt site-specific system of 2-μm plasmid from Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the FLP enzyme efficiently catalyzes recombination between two directly repeated FLP recombination target (frt) sites, eliminating the sequence between them. By controlled expression of the FLP recombinase and specific allocation of the frt sites within transgenic constructs, the system can be applied to eliminate the marker genes after selection. Through a series of procedures, the plant FLP/frt site-specific recombination system was constructed, which included the frt-containing vector pCAMBIA1300-betA-frt-als-frt and the FLP expression vector pCAMBIA1300-hsp-FLP-hpt. The FLP recombinase gene was introduced into transgenic (betA-frt-als-frt) tobacco plants by re-transformation. In re-transgenic plants, after heat-shock treatment, the marker gene als flanked by two identical orientation frt sites could be excised by the inducible expression of FLP recombinase under the control of hsp promoter. Excision of the als gene was found in 41 % re-transgenic tobacco plants, which indicated that this system could make a great contribution obtaining the marker-free transgenic plants.     

Flp recombinase transgenic mice of C57BL/6 strain for conditional gene targeting

We constructed an expression vector of Flp recombinase modified by adding a nuclear localization signal. Injection of the expression vector into fertilized eggs of the C57BL/6 strain yielded transgenic mouse lines expressing the Flp recombinase transgene in the testis. We crossed the transgenic mice to reporter mice carrying the neomycin phosphotransferase gene flanked by target sites of Flp recombinase. Examination of the deletion of the neomycin phosphotransferase gene in the progeny showed that Flp-mediated recombination took place efficiently in vivo in FLP66 transgenic mouse line. These results suggest that the Flp recombinase system is effective in mice and in combination with the Cre recombinase system extends the potentials of gene manipulation in mice. One of the useful applications of FLP66 transgenic mouse line is the removal of marker genes from mice manipulated for the conditional gene targeting with the Cre/loxP system in the pure C57BL/6 genetic background.     

Gene deletion from Plasmodium falciparum using FLP and Cre recombinases: Implications for applied site-specific recombination

The ability to manipulate the genome and induce site-specific recombination using either Flippase (FLP) or Cre recombinase has been useful in many systems including Plasmodium berghei for specific deletion events or to obtain conditional gene expression. To test whether these recombinases are active in Plasmodium falciparum we constructed gene knockouts that contain sequences recognised as templates for site-specific recombination. We tested the ability of FLP and Cre recombinases, expressed conditionally in P. falciparum, to mediate deletion of the human dihydrofolate reductase (hdhfr) drug resistance gene. We show that Cre recombinase is capable of efficient removal of hdhfr by site-specific recombination. In contrast, FLP recombinase is very inefficient, even at the optimum temperature of 30 °C for this enzyme. These results demonstrate that Cre recombinase can be utilised in P. falciparum for deletion of specific sequences such as drug resistance genes. This can be exploited for recycling of drug resistance cassettes and for the design of specific recombination events in P. falciparum.     

FLP-mediated site-specific recombination in microinjected murine zygotes

The FLP recombinase of yeast catalyses site-specific recombination between repeated FLP recombinase target (FRT) elements in yeast and in heterologous system (Escherichia coli, Drosophila, mosquito and cultured mammalian cells). In this report, it is shown that transient FLP recombinase expression can recombine and activate an extrachromosomal silent reporter gene following coinjection into fertilized one-cell mouse eggs. Furthermore, it is demonstrated that introduction of a FLP-recombinase expression vector into transgenic one-cell fertilized mouse eggs induces a recombination event at a chromosomal FRT target locus. The resulting event occured at the one-cell stage and deleted a chromosomal tandem array of a FRT containinglacZ expression cassette down to one or two copies. These results demonstrate that the FLP recombinase can be utilized to manipulate the genome of transgenic animals and suggest that FLP recombinase-mediated plasmid-to-chromosome targeting is feasible in microinjected eggs.