Regulation of endothelial-specific transgene expression by the LacI repressor protein in vivo.

Genetically modified mice have played an important part in elucidating gene function in vivo. However, conclusions from transgenic studies may be compromised by complications arising from the site of transgene integration into the genome and, in inducible systems, the non-innocuous nature of inducer...

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Main Authors: Susan K Morton, Daniel J Chaston, Brett K Baillie, Caryl E Hill, Klaus I Matthaei
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2014-01-01
Series:PLoS ONE
Online Access:http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC3995964?pdf=render
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author Susan K Morton
Daniel J Chaston
Brett K Baillie
Caryl E Hill
Klaus I Matthaei
author_facet Susan K Morton
Daniel J Chaston
Brett K Baillie
Caryl E Hill
Klaus I Matthaei
author_sort Susan K Morton
collection DOAJ
description Genetically modified mice have played an important part in elucidating gene function in vivo. However, conclusions from transgenic studies may be compromised by complications arising from the site of transgene integration into the genome and, in inducible systems, the non-innocuous nature of inducer molecules. The aim of the present study was to use the vascular system to validate a technique based on the bacterial lac operon system, in which transgene expression can be repressed and de-repressed by an innocuous lactose analogue, IPTG. We have modified an endothelium specific promoter (TIE2) with synthetic LacO sequences and made transgenic mouse lines with this modified promoter driving expression of mutant forms of connexin40 and an independently translated reporter, EGFP. We show that tissue specificity of this modified promoter is retained in the vasculature of transgenic mice in spite of the presence of LacO sequences, and that transgene expression is uniform throughout the endothelium of a range of adult systemic and cerebral arteries and arterioles. Moreover, transgene expression can be consistently down-regulated by crossing the transgenic mice with mice expressing an inhibitor protein LacI(R), and in one transgenic line, transgene expression could be de-repressed rapidly by the innocuous inducer, IPTG. We conclude that the modified bacterial lac operon system can be used successfully to validate transgenic phenotypes through a simple breeding schedule with mice homozygous for the LacI(R) protein.
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spelling doaj.art-5de9012ae57841ffbbc45a6fe6cdb6462022-12-22T03:41:58ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032014-01-0194e9598010.1371/journal.pone.0095980Regulation of endothelial-specific transgene expression by the LacI repressor protein in vivo.Susan K MortonDaniel J ChastonBrett K BaillieCaryl E HillKlaus I MatthaeiGenetically modified mice have played an important part in elucidating gene function in vivo. However, conclusions from transgenic studies may be compromised by complications arising from the site of transgene integration into the genome and, in inducible systems, the non-innocuous nature of inducer molecules. The aim of the present study was to use the vascular system to validate a technique based on the bacterial lac operon system, in which transgene expression can be repressed and de-repressed by an innocuous lactose analogue, IPTG. We have modified an endothelium specific promoter (TIE2) with synthetic LacO sequences and made transgenic mouse lines with this modified promoter driving expression of mutant forms of connexin40 and an independently translated reporter, EGFP. We show that tissue specificity of this modified promoter is retained in the vasculature of transgenic mice in spite of the presence of LacO sequences, and that transgene expression is uniform throughout the endothelium of a range of adult systemic and cerebral arteries and arterioles. Moreover, transgene expression can be consistently down-regulated by crossing the transgenic mice with mice expressing an inhibitor protein LacI(R), and in one transgenic line, transgene expression could be de-repressed rapidly by the innocuous inducer, IPTG. We conclude that the modified bacterial lac operon system can be used successfully to validate transgenic phenotypes through a simple breeding schedule with mice homozygous for the LacI(R) protein.http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC3995964?pdf=render
spellingShingle Susan K Morton
Daniel J Chaston
Brett K Baillie
Caryl E Hill
Klaus I Matthaei
Regulation of endothelial-specific transgene expression by the LacI repressor protein in vivo.
PLoS ONE
title Regulation of endothelial-specific transgene expression by the LacI repressor protein in vivo.
title_full Regulation of endothelial-specific transgene expression by the LacI repressor protein in vivo.
title_fullStr Regulation of endothelial-specific transgene expression by the LacI repressor protein in vivo.
title_full_unstemmed Regulation of endothelial-specific transgene expression by the LacI repressor protein in vivo.
title_short Regulation of endothelial-specific transgene expression by the LacI repressor protein in vivo.
title_sort regulation of endothelial specific transgene expression by the laci repressor protein in vivo
url http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC3995964?pdf=render
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