绿色荧光蛋白转基因小鼠模型的建立及胚胎冷冻保种

目的建立绿色荧光蛋白转基因小鼠模型,并采取胚胎冷冻的方法进行保种。方法通过原核显微注射法,把线性化、纯化后的外源基因pEGFP注射入BDF1小鼠受精卵中,胚胎移植给同期发情的假孕受体母鼠,获得子代小鼠。经鉴定对有表达的转基因鼠进行胚胎冷冻保种。结果移植注射胚胎385枚给30只假孕小鼠共出生了306只后代鼠,经PCR和southern blot检测得到5只阳性小鼠。F2代转基因鼠胚胎冷冻240枚胚胎。结论通过显微注射法使外源基因pEGFP在小鼠基因组中得到整合,建立了转pEGFP的转基因小鼠模型。     

Offspring derived from intracytoplasmic injection of transgenic rat sperm

The objective of the present study was to produce rat offspring by intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) using a Piezo-driven micromanipulator. Transgenic male rats carrying a green fluorescent protein gene (GFP: homozygous) were used as sperm donors. The epididymal spermatozoa were suspended and sonicated in m-KRB medium and were frozen in the same medium at –20°C until use. When the sperm heads were aspirated into injection pipettes 7–10m in diameter and introduced into oocytes from the Wistar strain, no offspring resulted from the transfer of 59 eggs. In contrast, the sperm heads were hung on the tip of injection pipettes 2–4m in diameter and introduced into the oocytes, use of Piezo resulting in the production of 18 transgenic offspring carrying the GFP gene from 181 eggs transferred. The oocytes from the Sprague–Dawley strain also supported full-term development following ICSI with three offspring resulting from 163 transferred eggs. In an additional ICSI trial, spermatozoa from infertile transgenic rats carrying human lactalbumin with the thymidine kinase gene (LAC3: heterozygous) were used. The spermatozoa of the LAC3 transgenic rats appeared to be defective and immotile because of the expression of thymidine kinase in the testes, and no ICSI offspring resulted from 218 transferred eggs. These results suggest that ICSI is applicable in rats when Piezo-driven smaller pipettes are used to inject sperm heads together with a limited amount of the surrounding medium and that the ability of isolated sperm heads to participate in normal embryo development is maintained under the cryopreservation conditions employed.     

绿色荧光裸鼠血液生理生化指标检测分析

目的检测绿色荧光蛋白（green fluorescenc eprotein,GFP）转基因裸鼠血液生理生化指标,为将来的研究提供基础参考值。方法实验选用6～8周GFP转基因裸鼠及对照组BABL／C裸鼠雌雄各30只,取血测定血生化和血常规指标。结果①GFP转基因裸鼠与对照组BABL／C裸鼠比较,白细胞总数（WBC）、尿素（URE）、平均血红蛋浓度（MCHC）、葡萄糖（GLU）差异极显著（P〈0．01）;血红蛋白（HGB）、红细胞分布宽度（RDW）、血小板计数（PLT）、尿酸（uA）差异显著（P〈0．05）,其它指标差异不显著。②GFP转基因裸鼠雌雄间比较,红细胞分布宽度（RDW）、平均血红蛋白含量（MCH）、平均血红蛋浓度（MCHC）、血小板计数（PLT）、球蛋白（G）、胆固醇（TC）、HDL-胆固醇（HDL—TC）差异极显著（P〈0．01）,白蛋白（ALB）、葡萄糖（GLU）差异显著（P〈0．05）,其它指标差异不显著。结论转基因GFP转基因裸鼠的生理生化指标值在雄雌间有一定的差异,为相关的生物医学研究提供了基础数据。     

Production of transgenic chickens expressing a tetracycline-inducible GFP gene

There is much interest in using farm animals as ‘bioreactors’ to produce large quantities of biopharmaceuticals. However, uncontrolled constitutive expression of foreign genes have been known to cause serious physiological disturbances in transgenic animals. The objective of this study was to test the feasibility of the controllable expression of an exogenous gene in the chicken. A retrovirus vector was designed to express GFP (green fluorescent protein) and rtTA (reverse tetracycline-controlled transactivator) under the control of the tetracycline-inducible promoter and the PGK (phosphoglycerate kinase) promoter, respectively. G0 founder chickens were produced by infecting the blastoderm of freshly laid eggs with concentrated retrovirus vector. Feeding the chickens obtained with doxycycline, a tetracycline derivative, resulted in emission of green body color under fluorescent light, and no apparent significant physiological dysfunctions. Successful germline transmission of the exogenous gene was also confirmed. Expression of the GFP gene reverted to the pre-induction levels when doxycycline was removed from the diet. The results showed that a tetracycline-inducible expression system in transgenic animals might be a promising solution to minimize physiological disturbances caused by the transgene.     

Establishment of a preadipocyte cell line derived from mature adipocytes of GFP transgenic mice and formation of adipose tissue

We established a preadipocyte cell line from mature adipocytes obtained from subcutaneous fat tissue of green fluorescent protein (GFP) transgenic mice. The floating top layer, containing mature adipocytes, was isolated from subcutaneous fat tissue by collagenase digestion and filtration. Fluorescence-activated cell sorting and microscopic analysis revealed that the floating cell fraction comprised a highly homogeneous adipocyte population with no adipose stromal-vascular cells. Isolated mature adipocytes dedifferentiated into fibroblast-like cells and actively proliferated in ceiling culture. In vitro studies showed that the cells could redifferentiate into mature adipocytes in an identical way to 3T3-L1 preadipocytes. No changes in the differentiation pattern were observed during the propagation of our cells. They were successfully maintained and differentiated for at least 22 passages. We named these cells dedifferentiated fat (DFAT-GFP) cells. When DFAT-GFP cells were implanted subcutaneously into C57BL/6N mice, they developed highly vascularized fat pads that morphologically resembled normal subcutaneous adipose tissue and consisted of GFP-positive cells; however, implanted 3T3-L1 cells did not have such an effect on the mice. We conclude that DFAT-GFP cells provide a model that should enable us to study the mechanisms of adipocyte differentiation and adipose tissue formation in vivo and in vitro. This work was supported by grants from the Japan Ministry of Education, Science, Sports, and Culture (no. 19580348) and from MEXT. HAITEKU (2007–2011).     

A cyp19a1b‐gfp (aromatase B) transgenic zebrafish line that expresses GFP in radial glial cells

Aromatase is an enzyme that catalyzes the synthesis of estrogen in gonads and brain. Teleost fish express aromatase (AroB) strongly in the brain facilitating its detailed examination. To understand the function of AroB in the brain, we generated transgenic zebrafish that expresses green fluorescent protein (GFP) driven by the brain aromatase cyp19a1b promoter. GFP was found in the radial glial cells of transgenic larvae and adult fish that overlap with AroB immunoreactivity in the correct temporal and spatial pattern. GFP was also coexpressed with radial cell marker BLBP, but was not in neurons. In addition, GFP expression in the radial glial cells was stimulated by estrogen, same as endogenous AroB expression. Thus, this transgenic line faithfully mimics the regulation of AroB expression in radial glial cells. It provides a powerful tool to further characterize progenitor radial cells in adult and developing fish and to evaluate estrogenic activities of xenoestrogens and phytoestrogens. genesis 47:67–73, 2009. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

GFP as a Genetic Marker Scorable Throughout the Life Cycle of Transgenic Zebra Fish

A fish expression vector, FRM, was constructed by fusing the carp β-actin promoter and first intron to the ocean pout antifreeze protein terminator and putative boundary element. Mutant forms of the green fluorescent protein (GFP) were engineered into this vector, and the resultant series of vectors, FRMwg, FRM3wg (green GFP), and FRM2bl (blue GFP), were used to make transgenic zebra fish. After microinjection of either supercoiled or linearized DNA into one-celled eggs, GFP-expressing cells could be monitored by fluorescence microscopy commencing with the midblastula transition and continuing through embryogenesis. From adult fish, which retained scorable GFP either as patches or as a uniform fluorescence, 11 green and 1 blue GFP-expressing lines of zebra fish have been established. Expression of GFP was nearly ubiquitous and similar among all of these lines. Embryonic expression could be scored at 15 to 30 hours postfertilization and was seen throughout the embryo with the exceptions of the yolk, red blood cells, and in some lines, portions of the head. Adult expression was in a majority of tissues (e.g., muscle, brain, intestine, and heart, but not red blood cells). The notable difference between lines was that fluorescent eggs were scorable in seven of the lines. Adult homozygotes from a different subset of eight lines could be selected by the relative intensity of the GFP marking when compared with that in sibling heterozygotes. All 12 lines contain apparent single locus, multicopy, tandem integrations (1.5–100 copies per cell) of the transgenic DNA. The fish expression vector FRM could be used to drive nearly ubiquitous and strong expression of gene products other than GFP. The GFP expression vectors, FRMwg, FRM2wg, FRM3wg, and FRM2bl, may be useful for optimization of transgenesis and as a comarker. GFP-expressing zebra fish lines could facilitate experimental analysis of chimerism and in vivo gene targeting. Received May 18, 1999; accepted August 26, 1999.     

Generation of a transgenic mouse line expressing GFP-Cre protein from a Hoxb4 neural enhancer

Here, we describe a transgenic mouse line, in which expression of green fluorescent protein fused to Cre recombinase (GFP-Cre) is directed by the early neuronal enhancer (ENE) of Hoxb4. In E9.0-13.5 transgenic embryos, Cre activity coincided with endogenous Hoxb4 throughout the neural tube up to the r6/r7 boundary in the hindbrain, the dorsal root ganglia, and the Xth cranial ganglia. Unexpectedly, Cre activity was also consistently detected in the trigeminal (Vth) cranial nerve, which is devoid of endogenous Hoxb4 expression. Strong GFP dependent fluorescence appeared slightly later in E9.5-E11.5 embryos, and reflected the later expression pattern expected for Hoxb4-ENE directed expression in the neural tube up to the r7/r8 not r6/r7 boundary. Thus, with the exception of the trigeminal nerve, this reporter faithfully reproduces endogenous embryonic neural Hoxb4 expression, and provides an excellent reagent for in vivo gene manipulations in neuronal Hoxb4 positive cells as well as the developing trigeminal nerve. This transgenic mouse line should prove especially useful for determining the fate map of neuronal populations arising in rhombomeres 7 and 8 on its own and in combination with the small set of other existing rhombomere-specific Cre recombinase expressing lines.     

Generation of the tamoxifen-inducible DBH-Cre transgenic mouse line DBH-CT

We generated transgenic mice bearing a tamoxifen-dependent Cre recombinase expressed under the control of the dopamine-β-hydroxylase promoter. By crossing to the ROSA26 reporter mice we show that tamoxifen-induced Cre recombinase in adult mice specifically activates β-galactosidase expression in differentiated noradrenergic neurons of the central and peripheral nervous system. Tamoxifen application in adult mice did not induce β-galactosidase activity in parasympathetic neurons that transiently express DBH during development. Thus, this transgenic mouse line represents a valuable tool to study gene function in mature noradrenergic neurons by conditional inactivation.     

High-level expression of a synthetic red-shifted GFP coding region incorporated into transgenic chloroplasts

We describe here a synthetic red-shifted variant of GFP that can be introduced into tobacco plastid genomes and is highly expressed in regenerated plants that appear normal and fertile. The variant contains the S65G and S72A mutations which shift the absorption maximum from the 395 nm of wild-type GFP closer to 488 nm, a wavelength emitted by a laser commonly used in confocal microscopy. In addition to enhanced fluorescence, the removal of significant absorption below 450 nm will potentially facilitate double-labelling experiments. The variant GFP encoded by the synthetic gene can be expressed at a high level, forming approximately 5% of total leaf protein.     

Production of porcine cloned transgenic embryos expressing green fluorescent protein by somatic cell nuclear transfer

In the present study, nuclear transferred embryos (NTEs) were reconstructed by using pig fetal fibroblasts as donors and in vitro matured oocytes as recipients. The effects of G418 selection on donor cells, duration of IVM of prepubertal gilt oocytes and oxygen tension in IVM of oocytes were investigated. The results were as follows: (i) When G418 selected cells expressing GFP were used as donors, the cleavage rate of NTEs decreased drastically in comparison to NTEs derived from donors without antibiotic selection (47.5% vs. 71.6%, p<0.05). For the blastocyst rate, no significant difference was observed between two groups (10% vs. 10.4%, p>0.05). (ii) The rate of nuclear maturation of oocytes increased significantly when IVM duration time was extended from 36 to 42 h (83.6% vs. 96.7%, p<0.05). However, no statistical difference was observed between NTEs derived from oocytes of 36 h IVM group and NTEs from oocytes of 42 h IVM group in the rates of cleavage (59.3% vs. 73.6%, p>0.05) and blastocyst formation (9.3% vs. 13.2%, p>0.05); (iii) no significant difference was observed between NTEs reconstructed from oocytes matured under lower oxygen (7% O₂) tension and NTEs derived from oocytes matured under higher oxygen tension (20% O₂) in cleavage rate (70.6% vs. 67.1%, p>0.05) and blastocyst rate (11.8% vs. 12.3%, p>0.05). These results suggest that: (i) G418 selection does not have a significant effect on cleavage rate of NTEs expressing GFP. (ii) Nuclear maturation is greatly improved by prolonging IVM duration from 36 to 42 h, while no significant differences were observed for developmental potential of transgenic embryos. Thus IVM 42 h is the better choice in order to obtain maximum number of MII oocytes as recipients. (iii) Lower oxygen tension and higher oxygen tension in IVM have no significant effect on development of cloned embryos.     

Production of porcine cloned transgenic embryos expressing green fluorescent protein by somatic cell nuclear transfer

In the present study, nuclear transferred embryos (NTEs) were reconstructed by using pig fetal fibroblasts as donors and in vitro matured oocytes as recipients. The effects of G418 selection on donor cells, duration of IVM of prepubertal gilt oocytes and oxygen tension in IVM of oocytes were investigated. The results were as follows: (i) When G418 selected cells expressing GFP were used as donors, the cleavage rate of NTEs decreased drastically in comparison to NTEs derived from donors without antibiotic selection (45.7% vs. 71.6%, p<0.05). For the blastocyst rate, no significant difference was observed between two groups (10% vs. 10.4%, p>0.05). (ii) The rate of nuclear maturation of oocytes increased significantly when IVM duration time was extended from 36h to 42h (83.6% vs. 96.7%, p<0.05). However, no statistical difference were observed between NTEs derived from oocytes of 36 h IVM group and NTEs from oocytes of 42 h IVM group in the rates of cleavage (59.3% vs. 73.6%, p>0.05) and blastocyst formation (9.3% vs. 13.2%, p>0.05); (iii) no significant difference was observed between NTEs reconstructed from oocytes matured under lower oxygen (7% O₂) tension and NTEs derived from oocytes matured under higher oxygen tension (20% O₂) in cleavage rate (70.6% vs. 67.1%, p>0.05) and blastocyst rate (11.8% vs. 12.8%, p>0.05). These results suggest that: (i) G418 selection does not have a significant effect on cleavage rate of NTEs expressing GFP. (ii) Nuclear maturation is greatly improved by prolonging IVM duration from 36 to 42 h, while no significant differences were observed for developmental potential of transgenic embryos. Thus IVM 42 h is the better choice in order to obtain maximum number of MII oocytes as recipients. (iii) Lower oxygen tension and higher oxygen tension in IVM have no significant effect on development of cloned embryos.     

绿荧光蛋白及其在转基因动物研究中的应用

绿荧光蛋白（ｇｒｅｅｎｆｌｕｏｒｅｓｃｅｎｔｐｒｏｔｅｉｎ,ＧＦＰ）是源于水母（Ｊｅｌｙｆｉｓｈ）、海笔（ＳｅａＰｅｎ,ＳｅａＰａｎｓｙ）等海洋无脊椎动物的一种蛋白质,这种蛋白质在体外经适当波长的光激发便可发出绿光,所发出的绿光用普通荧光显微镜或荧光激活细胞分拣器（ＦＡＣＳ）均可检测到。ＧＦＰ作为动、植物以及微生物基因工程研究上的一种选择标记具有检测灵敏度高,操作简便,对机体毒副作用小且不需要添加任何底物或辅助因子等优点,更重要的是检测ＧＦＰ无损于细胞或胚胎的完整性及活力。本文概括介绍ＧＦＰ的生化、发光光谱及遗传学特征及其在转基因动物研究上的应用。     

Production of porcine cloned transgenic embryos expressing green fluorescent protein by somatic cell nuclear transfer

Somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT), combined with genome modification techniques, is a very pow-erful tool for agriculture, medicine and fundamental research on basic biological mechanisms. The effi-ciency of producing transgenic animals is greatly prom…     

Generation and characterization of a Tet-On (rtTA-M2) transgenic rat

Background  

The tetracycline-inducible gene regulation system is a powerful tool that allows temporal and dose-dependent regulation of target transgene expression in vitro and in vivo. Several tetracycline-inducible transgenic mouse models have been described with ubiquitous or tissue-specific expression of tetracycline-transactivator (tTA), reverse tetracycline-transactivator (rtTA) or Tet repressor (TetR). Here we describe a Tet-On transgenic rat that ubiquitously expresses rtTA-M2 driven by the murine ROSA 26 promoter.     

Green fluorescent protein (GFP) expression patterns in the olfactory epithelium of GFP transgenic cloned Jinhua pigs

Domestic pigs possess a well‐developed sense of smell. However, the morphology of the porcine olfactory epithelium (OE) is poorly understood. Recently, several strains of transgenic cloned pigs that are presumed to ubiquitously express green fluorescent protein (GFP) have been created. Thus, the purpose of this study was to elucidate the features of porcine OE using the tissues of GFP transgenic cloned pigs. Based on observations of Hematoxylin and Eosin staining and measurements of thickness, porcine OE tissue portions were classified into three categories (thick, standard, and thin). Cryosections revealed that the prominent GFP signals were expressed in olfactory sensory neurons (OSN), Bowman's glands, and olfactory nerve. A few GFP‐expressing sustentacular cells were seen; however, the intensity of GFP fluorescence was slight. In the thick portion, numerous GFP‐expressing polygonal OSN that did not possess dendrites were found. In the standard portions, GFP‐expressing cells had longitudinal dendrites. A few GFP‐expressing cells were found in the thin portion. In the thick and standard portions, most of the prominent GFP‐expressing cells were positive for olfactory marker protein. Moreover, double immunofluorescence staining with boiled GFP and Sox2 antibody revealed that GFP expression patterns in OSN are synchronized with Sox2 immunoreactive patterns.     

转基因鸡生物反应器载体的构建及其表达特性分析

以增强型绿色荧光蛋白和萤火虫荧光素酶为报告基因,构建了鸡卵清蛋白启动子表达载体和慢病毒载体,以巨细胞病毒 (Cytomegalovirus,CMV)启动子表达载体为对照,转染或感染鸡原代输卵管上皮细胞、鸡胚成纤维细胞、鼠3T3-L1前脂肪细胞和牛乳腺上皮细胞,通过荧光和酶活性检测,旨在筛选出用于实现转基因鸡生物反应器的高效特异性表达载体。结果发现,鸡卵清蛋白启动子表达载体转染以上4种细胞后2种标记基因均有表达,没有表现出明显的细胞特异性,且荧光素酶检测结果表明其在各细胞组中表达活性都低于CMV启动子表达载体100倍以上;慢病毒载体感染以上4种细胞后2种标记基因均有表达,在鸡输卵管上皮细胞组感染单个细胞的病毒颗粒 (Multiplicity of infection,MOI) 为20时绿色荧光蛋白表达量就可以达到CMV启动子表达载体的水平。上述结果表明,基于卵清蛋白基因调控序列构建的表达载体无法实现外源基因的高效、特异性表达,而慢病毒载体在表达活性和广泛性上可以用于进行鸡输卵管生物反应器的研究。