Gene-trap mutagenesis using Mol/MSM-1 embryonic stem cells from MSM/Ms mice

The MSM/Ms strain is derived from the Japanese wild mouse Mus musculus molossinus and displays characteristics not observed in common laboratory strains. Functional genomic analyses using genetically engineered MSM/Ms mice will reveal novel phenotypes and gene functions/interactions. We previously reported the establishment of a germline-competent embryonic stem (ES) cell line, Mol/MSM-1, from the MSM/Ms strain. To analyze its usefulness for insertional mutagenesis, we performed gene-trapping using these cells. In the present study, we compared the gene-trap events between Mol/MSM-1 and a conventional ES cell line, KTPU8, derived from the F1 progeny of a C57BL/6 × CBA cross. We introduced a promoter-trap vector carrying the promoterless β-galactosidase/neomycin-resistance fusion gene into Mol/MSM-1 and KTPU8 cells, isolated clones, and identified the trapped genes by rapid amplification of cDNA 5′-ends (5′-RACE), inverse PCR, or plasmid rescue. Unexpectedly, the success rate of 5′-RACE in Mol/MSM trap clones was 47 %, lower than the 87 % observed in KTPU8 clones. Genomic analysis of the 5′-RACE-failed clones revealed that most had trapped ribosomal RNA gene regions. The percentage of ribosomal RNA region trap clones was 41 % in Mol/MSM-1 cells, but less than 10 % in KTPU8 cells. However, within the Mol/MSM-1 5′-RACE-successful clones, the trapping frequency of annotated genes, the chromosomal distribution of vector insertions, the frequency of integration into an intron around the start codon-containing exon, and the functional spectrum of trapped genes were comparable to those in KTPU8 cells. By selecting 5′-RACE-successful clones, it is possible to perform gene-trapping efficiently using Mol/MSM-1 ES cells and promoter-trap vectors.     

Use of coisogenic host blastocysts for efficient establishment of germline chimeras with C57BL/6J ES cell lines.

Gene targeting in embryonic stem (ES) cells allows the production of mice with specified genetic mutations. Currently, germline-competent ES cell lines are available from only a limited number of mouse strains, and inappropriate ES cell/host blastocyst combinations often restrict the efficient production of gene-targeted mice. Here, we describe the derivation of C57BL/6J (B6) ES lines and compare the effectiveness of two host blastocyst donors, FVB/NJ (FVB) and the coisogenic strain C57BL/6-Tyr(c)-2J (c2J), for the production of germline chimeras. We found that when B6 ES cells were injected into c2J host blastocysts, a high rate of coat-color chimerism was detected, and germline transmission could be obtained with few blastocyst injections. In all but one case, highly chimeric mice transmitted to 100% of their offspring. The injection of B6 ES cells into FVB blastocysts produced some chimeric mice. However; the proportion of coat-color chimerism was low, with many more blastocyst injections required to generate chimeras capable of germline transmission. Our data support the use of the coisogenic albino host strain, c2J, for the generation of germline-competent chimeric mice when using B6 ES cells.     

Generation of C57BL/6 knockout mice using C3H x BALB/c blastocysts

The International Mouse Knockout Consortium aims to generate a knockout mouse for every single gene on a C57BL/6 background. Our ability to generate such mice is hampered by the poor economics of producing blastocysts to achieve germline transmission of C57BL/6 embryonic stem (ES) cells. We demonstrate superior utility of (C3H x BALB/c)F1 blastocysts compared with BALB/c blastocysts, with blastocyst numbers and germline transmission from subsequent chimeras at a rate 2- to 3-fold higher than that produced with BALB/c blastocysts.     

Studies on Two Factors Affecting the Production of Germline Chimeras by Using HM 1 Cells

ＥＳ细胞系统与基因定位致变相结合,进行基因敲除（ｋｎｏｃｋｏｕｔ）已成为研究基因在生物体内功能的重要手段。在ＥＳ细胞系的建立、外源基因导入ＥＳ细胞、种系嵌合鼠的获得等三个重要环节中,种系嵌合鼠的获得是最关键的一环。由于ＥＳ细胞系统技术复杂、实验条件要求很高,尽管国际上已报导了上百例的基因敲除（ｋｎｏｃｋｏｕｔ）实验,但是到目前为止,我国还无一例在国内条件下获得种系嵌合鼠的正式报道。本研究对影响种系嵌合鼠获得的两种因素（饲养层细胞、受体胚胎种类）进行了比较研究,成功地获得了种系嵌合鼠。将ＨＭ１细胞在ＳＴＯ或ＭＥＦ培养层上培养至２１３３代,注射到不同小鼠的囊胚里,经过恢复培养,移植到假孕的昆明白雌鼠子宫内。由于ＨＭ１细胞来源于粟色的的１２９品系,而胚胎供体鼠的毛色为黑或白色,仔鼠出生一周后即可辨别是否为毛色嵌合鼠。用成年嵌合鼠与其受体胚胎相同品系的小鼠交配,进行种系嵌合鼠鉴定。曾有报导：ＳＴＯ培养层会导致ＥＳ细胞发生核变。我们改用ＭＥＦ培养层,获得嵌合鼠的比率高达４８．６％（Ｔａｂｌｅ１）。不同小鼠胚胎之间存在差异,Ｃ５７ＢＬ／６Ｊ、ＩＣＲ和昆明白三者提供的受体胚胎产生嵌合鼠的比率分别为７１．４％、５５％     

Comparison of tetraploid blastocyst microinjection of outbred Crl:CD1(ICR), hybrid B6D2F1/Tac, and inbred C57BL/6NTac embryos for generation of mice derived from embryonic stem cells

Embryo electrofusion and tetraploid blastocyst microinjection is a modification of the traditional embryonic stem cell (ES cell)-based method to generate targeted mutant mice. Viability of tetraploid embryos is reportedly lower than with diploid embryos, with considerable interstrain variation. Here we assessed fetus and pup viability after ES cell microinjection of tetraploid blastocysts derived from outbred, hybrid, and inbred mice. Two-cell mouse embryos (C57BL/6NTac [B6], n = 788; B6D2F1/Tac [BDF1], n = 1871; Crl:CD1(ICR) [CD1], n = 1308) were electrofused; most resultant tetraploid blastocysts were injected with ES cells and surgically transferred into pseudopregnant recipient mice. Reproductive tracts were examined at midgestation for embryologic studies using B6 and BDF1 blastocysts; implantation sites and viable fetuses were counted. Pregnancies were carried to term for studies of targeted mutant mice using BDF1 and CD1 blastocysts, and pup yield was evaluated. Electrofusion rates of 2-cell embryos did not differ among B6, BDF1, and CD1 mice (overall mean, 92.8% +/- 5.4%). For embryologic studies, 244 B6 blastocysts were surgically transferred and 1 fetus was viable (0.41%), compared with 644 BDF1 blastocysts surgically transferred and 88 viable fetuses (13.7%). For targeted mutant mouse studies, 259 BDF1 blastocysts were surgically transferred yielding 10 pups (3.9%); 569 CD1 blastocysts yielded 44 pups (7.7%).     

Establishment and chimera analysis of 129/SvEv- and C57BL/6-derived mouse embryonic stem cell lines

Hundreds of new mutant mouse lines are being produced annually using gene targeting and gene trap approaches in embryonic stem (ES) cells, and the number is expected to continue to grow as the human and mouse genome projects progress. The availability of robust ES cell lines and a simple technology for making chimeras is more attractive now than ever before. We established several new ES cell lines from 129/SvEv and C57BL/6 mice and tested their ability to contribute to the germline following blastocyst injections and/or the less expensive and easier method of morula-ES cell aggregation. Using morula aggregation to produce chimeras, five newly derived 129/SvEv and two C57BL/6 ES cell lines tested at early passages were found to contribute extensively to chimeras and produce germline-transmitting male chimeras. Furthermore, the two 129S/vEv ES cell lines that were tested and one of the C57BL/6 ES cell lines were able to maintain these characteristics after many passages in vitro. Our results indicate that the ability of ES cells to contribute strongly to chimeras following aggregation with outbred embryos is a general property of early passage ES cells and can be maintained for many passages. C56BL/6-derived ES cell lines, however, have a greater tendency than 129-derived ES cell lines to lose their ability to colonize the germline.     

两个可进入种系的ES细胞系的建立

从１２９／ｔｅｒ小鼠中建立了９个ＥＳ细胞系,它们在核型、生长速度、体内外分化能力等方面显示了各自不同的特点。通过囊胚显微注射法,将ＥＳ细胞注入Ｃ５７ＢＬ／６Ｊ胚胎中,制作了嵌合体,并通过对嵌合体后代毛色的观察,判断了嵌合体生殖细胞的组成。结果表明,ＥＳ细胞系ＭＥＳＰＵ２１、ＭＥＳＰＵ２２都具有很强的种系嵌合能力。比较这两个细胞系与其他细胞系,证明一个好的ＥＳ细胞系必须具备核型正常、生长速度快、体外     

Comparison of male chimeric mice generated from microinjection of JM8.N4 embryonic stem cells into C57BL/6J and C57BL/6NTac blastocysts

To identify ways to improve the efficiency of generating chimeric mice via microinjection of blastocysts with ES cells, we compared production and performance of ES-cell derived chimeric mice using blastocysts from two closely related and commonly used sub-strains of C57BL/6. Chimeras were produced by injection of the same JM8.N4 (C57BL/6NTac) derived ES cell line into blastocysts of mixed sex from either C57BL/6J (B6J) or C57BL/6NTac (B6NTac) mice. Similar efficiency of production and sex-conversion of chimeric animals was observed with each strain of blastocyst. However, B6J chimeric males had fewer developmental abnormalities involving urogenital and reproductive tissues (1/12, 8?%) compared with B6NTac chimeric males (7/9, 78?%). The low sample size did not permit determination of statistical significance for many parameters. However, in each category analyzed the B6J-derived chimeric males performed as well, or better, than their B6NTac counterparts. Twelve of 14 (86?%) B6J male chimeras were fertile compared with 6 of 11 (55?%) B6NTac male chimeras. Ten of 12 (83?%) B6J chimeric males sired more than 1 litter compared with only 3 of 6 (50?%) B6NTac chimeras. B6J male chimeras produced more litters per productive mating (3.42?±?1.73, n?=?12) compared to B6NTac chimeras (2.17?±?1.33, n?=?6). Finally, a greater ratio of germline transmitting chimeric males was obtained using B6J blastocysts (9/14; 64?%) compared with chimeras produced using B6NTac blastocysts (4/11; 36?%). Use of B6J host blastocysts for microinjection of ES cells may offer improvements over blastocysts from B6NTac and possibly other sub-strains of C57BL/6 mice.     

小鼠ES细胞种系嵌合体的获得

种系嵌合体的获得是实现ＥＳ细胞介导的转基因途径的决定步骤,ＥＳ细胞种系分化能力的保持是决定种系嵌合的前提条件,而事体的主种系嵌合体的获得则是判定ＥＳ细胞系是否具有种系分化能力的唯一方法,为考察本室新近建立的３种小鼠ＥＳ细胞系ＭＥＳＰＵ２１．ＭＥＳＰＵ２２和ＭＥＳＰＵ２９的种系分化能力,选用近交系Ｃ５７ＢＬ／６Ｊ及远交系ＫＭＷ和ＩＣＲ为受体胚胎提供者,分别通过囊胚注射法和８细胞期桑椹胚注射法进行了嵌     

Comparison of BALB/c and B6-albino mouse strain blastocysts as hosts for the injection of C57BL6/N-derived C2 embryonic stem cells

Embryonic stem (ES) cells from a C57BL/6N (B6N) background injected into B6(Cg)-Tyrc-2J/J (B6-albino) recipient blastocysts are commonly used for generating genetically modified mouse models. To understand the influence of the recipient blastocyst strain on germline transmission, BALB/cAnNTac and B6-albino germline transmission rates were compared using the C57BL6/N-derived C2 ES cell line. A total of 92 ES cell clones from 27 constructs were injected. We compared blastocyst yield, birth rate, chimera formation rate, and high-percentage (>50 %) male chimera formation rate. For germline transmission, we analyzed 24 clones from 19 constructs, which generated high-percentage male chimeras from both donor strains. B6-albino hosts resulted in higher mean blastocyst yields per donor than did BALB/c ones (3.6 vs. 2.5). However, BALB/c hosts resulted in a higher birth rate than B6-albino ones (36 vs. 27 %), a higher chimera formation rate (50 vs. 42 %), a higher high-percentage male chimera rate (10 vs. 8 %), and a higher germline transmission rate (65 vs. 49 %), respectively. Our data suggest that BALB/c is a suitable blastocyst host strain for C2 ES cells and has an advantage over the B6-albino strain for receiving the injection of C2 ES cells.     

Derivation and comparison of C57BL/6 embryonic stem cells to a widely used 129 embryonic stem cell line

Typically, embryonic stem (ES) cells derived from 129 mouse substrains are used to generate genetically altered mouse models. Resulting chimeric mice were then usually converted to a C57BL/6 background, which takes at least a year, even in the case of speed congenics. In recent years, embryonic stem cells have been derived from various mouse strains. However, 129 ES cells are still widely used partially due to poor germline transmission of ES cells derived from other strains. Availability of highly germline-competent C57BL/6 ES cells would enormously facilitate generation of genetically altered mice in a pure C57BL/6 genetic background by eliminating backcrossing time, and thus significantly reducing associated costs and efforts. Here, we describe establishment of a C57BL/6 ES cell line (LK1) and compare its efficacy to a widely used 129SvJ ES cell line (GSI-1) in generating germline chimeras. In contrast to earlier studies, our data shows that highly germline-competent C57BL/6 ES cell lines can be derived using a simple approach, and thus support broader use of C57BL/6 ES cell lines for genetically engineered mouse models. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

HDC细胞与MESPU-13细胞形成嵌合鼠能力的比较研究

ES细胞嵌合能力的强弱是人们利用ES细胞获得转基因小鼠时十分关心的问题。本文通过囊胚显微注射法将15个左右ES细胞注入C57 BL/6 J品系小鼠3.5天囊胚的囊胚腔中观察嵌合鼠毛色嵌合情况,统计嵌合鼠的出生率;以及用葡萄糖磷酸异构酶(GPI)电泳法检测ES细胞在嵌含鼠体内各种组织和器官的嵌合情况,对于HPRT缺陷(HDC)细胞和MES-PU-13细胞的嵌合能力我们作了较详细的研究,结果表明MESPU-13细胞嵌合能力较强,而HDC细胞嵌合能力较弱,并讨论分析了这种结果的原因。     

HDC细胞与MESPU—13细胞形成嵌合鼠能力的比较研究

ＥＳ细胞嵌合能力的强弱是人们利用ＥＳ细胞获得转基因小鼠时十分关心的问题。本言语通过囊胚显微注射法将１５个左右ＥＳ细胞注入Ｃ５７ＢＬ／６Ｊ品系小鼠３．５天囊胚的囊胚腔中观察嵌合鼠毛色嵌合情况。统计嵌合鼠的出生率;以及用葡萄糖磷酸异构酶（ＧＰＩ）电泳地检测ＥＳ细胞在嵌合鼠体内各种组织和器官的嵌合情况,对于ＨＰＲＴ缺陷（ＨＤＣ）细胞和ＭＥＳＰＵ－１３细胞的嵌合能力我们作了较详细的研究,结果表明ＭＥＳＰＵ     

Efficient Generation of Germ Line Transmitting Chimeras from C57BL/6N ES Cells by Aggregation with Outbred Host Embryos

Genetically modified mouse strains derived from embryonic stem (ES) cells have become essential tools for functional genomics and biomedical research. Large scale mutagenesis projects are producing libraries of mutant C57BL/6 (B6) ES cells to enable the functional annotation of every gene of the mouse genome. To realize the utility of these resources, efficient and accessible methods of generating mutant mice from these ES cells are necessary. Here, we describe a combination of ICR morula aggregation and a chemically-defined culture medium with widely available and accessible components for the high efficiency generation of germline transmitting chimeras from C57BL/6N ES cells. Together these methods will ease the access of the broader biomedical research community to the publicly available B6 ES cell resources.     

Efficacious Production of Viable Germ-Line Chimeras between Embryonic Stem (ES) Cells and 8-Cell Stage Embryos

Many embryonic stem (ES) cell lines have been isolated from various mouse strains, but production of germ-line chimeras has been achieved with only strain 129. This report describes the isolation of a new ES cell line, F1/1, from a mouse blastocyst with the C57BL/6 X CBA male genotype and tests on its ability to produce germ-line chimeras by two techniques, blastocyst injection and 8-cell embryo injection. Chimera production using CD-1 blastocysts as a host was low (20%), as reported by others. But by the 8-cell embryo injection method, in which F1/1 cells were injected into the perivitelline space through a slit in the zona pellucida of 8-cell embryos, chimeric mice with extremely high chimerism were obtained at a rate of 80%. Breeding tests showed that 89% of the fertile males were germ-line chimeras and in most case, the majority of the sperms in their testes were derived from F1/1 cells. This F1/1 cell line with a different genotype from the 129 strain shows high ability to produce functional germ cells, moreover, the 8-cell embryo injection method using F1/1 cells seems to be an efficient way to produce viable germ-line chimeras.     

品系对小鼠胚胎干细胞分离效率的影响

为了充分利用小鼠胚胎干(ES)细胞,就必须从众多小鼠品系中分离ES细胞系。本研究通过传统的成纤维细胞饲养层法,从CD-1、129/Sv、C57BL/6J和129/Sv×C57BL/6J四种不同遗传背景的小鼠中分离得到12个ES细胞系,而从KM小鼠没有得到ES细胞系。所有的ES细胞系都具有典型的ES细胞特征,AKP染色呈阳性。从四种不同遗传背景的ES细胞系得到了包含多种组织的畸胎瘤;与桑椹胚聚合后,都得到了生殖系嵌合体。结果表明:品系对小鼠ES细胞的分离有显著影响,利用129小鼠以及包含129小鼠遗传背景的杂交小鼠都较容易分离ES细胞,由ES细胞得到生殖系嵌合体的效率在不同品系间有显著差异,从杂交ES细胞比近交ES细胞中更容易得到生殖系嵌合体。     

Improved generation of C57BL/6J mouse embryonic stem cells in a defined serum-free media

C57BL/6 is a well-characterized mouse strain that is used extensively for immunological and neurological research. The establishment of C57BL/6 ES cell lines has facilitated the study of gene-altered mice in a pure genetic background-however, relatively few such lines exist. Using a defined media supplement, knockout serum replacement (KSR) with knockout DMEM (KSR-KDMEM), we find that we can readily establish ES cell lines from blastocysts of C57BL/6J mice. Six lines were established, all of which were karyotypically normal and could be maintained in the undifferentiated state on mouse embryonic fibroblast (MEF) feeders. One line was further tested and found to be karyotypically stable and germline competent, both prior to manipulation and after gene targeting. For this cell line, efficiencies of cell cloning and chimera generation were greater when maintained in KSR-KDMEM. Our work suggests that the use of defined serum-free media may facilitate the generation of ES cells from inbred mouse strains.     

远交系小鼠胚胎干细胞系的建立及嵌合鼠的获得

ＥＳ细胞（ＥｍｂｒｙｏｎｉｃＳｔｅｍＣｅｌｌｓ）是来源于小鼠早期胚胎的多潜能干细胞,它可以在体外大量培养。并以单细胞的形式注射到早期胚胎里,发育为嵌合体。到目前为止,通常使用的１２９小鼠品系是来源于近交系（ｉｎｂｒｅｄ）小鼠的胚胎．与之相比,远交系小鼠应当具有较强的生命力和抗病能力。曾有人报道过建成了远交系小鼠胚胎干细胞系,但是尚没有见到获得嵌合鼠的报道。有人甚至认为：由于不同品系小鼠所具有的遗传背景不同,有的小鼠不能建成ＥＳ细胞系。最近,本实验室在这方面做了有益的探索,成功地建成了远交系小鼠胚胎干细胞系,并在这里报导首例用远交系小鼠胚胎干细胞系培育成功嵌合体小鼠。采用源于Ｓｗｉｓｓ小鼠远交群的昆明（ＫＭ）品系小鼠囊胚建成了三个小鼠胚胎干细胞系（ＫＥ１．ＫＥ２．ＫＥ５）。核型正常率均达到７０％以上。自第八代起分批冻存,复苏后,培养至第１２代,消化成单细胞,通过囊胚显微注射,将其注射到６１５品系小鼠胚胎。在幸存的幼鼠中获得了一只来源于ＫＥ１细胞的嵌合鼠（Ｔａｂｌｅ１）．其毛色表现为受体鼠（６１５）的白色中嵌合有供体鼠（ＫＭ）的黑褐色（ＰｌａｔｅＩ－Ａ）．嵌合鼠与受体鼠的杂交后代鼠中仍然出现了受体鼠的毛色类型（     

Rho kinase inhibitor Y-27632 and Accutase dramatically increase mouse embryonic stem cell derivation

Although it has been 30 yr since the development of derivation methods for mouse embryonic stem (ES) cells, the biology of derivation of ES cells is poorly understood and the efficiency varies dramatically between cell lines. Recently, the Rho kinase inhibitor Y-27632 and the cell dissociation reagent Accutase were reported to significantly inhibit apoptosis of human ES cells during passaging. Therefore, in the current study, C57BL/6×129/Sv mouse blastocysts were used to evaluate the effect of the combination of the two reagents instead of using the conventional 129 line in mouse ES cell derivation. The data presented in this study suggests that the combination of Y-27632 and Accutase significantly increases the efficiency of mouse ES cell derivation; furthermore, no negative side effects were observed with Y-27632 and Accutase treatment. The newly established ES cell lines retain stable karyotype, surface markers expression, formed teratomas, and contributed to viable chimeras and germline transmission by tetraploid complementation assay. In addition, Y-27632 improved embryoid body formation of ES cells. During ES cell microinjection, Y-27632 prevented the formation of dissociation-induced cell blebs and facilitates the selection and the capture of intact cells. The methods presented in this study clearly demonstrate that inhibition of Rho kinase with Y-27632 and Accutase dissociation improve the derivation efficiently and reproducibility of mouse ES cell generation which is essential for reducing variability in the results obtained from different cell lines.     

Strain differences in histamine release from mouse peritoneal mast cells induced by compound 48/80 or A23187

Strain differences among BALB/c, BDF1, CDF1, C3 H/He, C57 BL/6, DBA/2, ddy and ICR mice were investigated with respect to the ratios of histamine release from mouse peritoneal mast cells induced by compound 48/80, a Ca2+ dependent histamine releaser, and the Ca2+ ionophore A23187. The ratios of histamine release from mouse peritoneal mast cells induced by compound 48/80 were found to be high in BALB/c, ddY and ICR mice, but low in BDF1, CDF1, C3 H/He, C57 BL/6 and DBA/2 mice. Those induced by Ca2+ ionophore A23187 were high in BALB/c, BDF1, CDF1, C3 H/He, DBA2, ddy and ICR mice but low in C57 BL/6 mice. These results indicate that differences in histamine release from mouse peritoneal mast cells are strain dependent.