51
|
Persuy MA, Stinnakre MG, Printz C, Mahe MF, Mercier JC. High expression of the caprine beta-casein gene in transgenic mice. EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF BIOCHEMISTRY 1992; 205:887-93. [PMID: 1577006 DOI: 10.1111/j.1432-1033.1992.tb16854.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
An 18-kb caprine genomic DNA fragment, comprising the beta-casein transcription unit with about 3-kb 5' and 6-kb 3' flanking regions, was microinjected into fertilized one-cell murine eggs. All nine lines of transgenic mice obtained expressed the transgene in their mammary glands, as demonstrated by Northern blot analysis of mRNA in miscellaneous tissues, and qualitative and quantitative analysis of caprine beta-casein in milk, using SDS/PAGE, Western blotting and rocket immunoelectrophoresis. Two lines produced milk containing up to 21-24 mg of the exogenous protein/ml, a yield which is roughly twice that found in goat milk. The yield reached at least 40 mg/ml in some progeny of crossbred G1 transgenic mice. Thus, the investigated gene appears to be a good candidate for making hybrid constructs that might promote an efficient production of valuable foreign proteins in milk.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- M A Persuy
- Laboratoire de Génétique Biochimique, I.N.R.A.-C.R.J., Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
52
|
Shamay A, Pursel VG, Wilkinson E, Wall RJ, Hennighausen L. Expression of the whey acidic protein in transgenic pigs impairs mammary development. Transgenic Res 1992; 1:124-32. [PMID: 1284481 DOI: 10.1007/bf02528777] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
The whey acidic protein has been found in milk of mice, rats, rabbits and camels, and its gene is expressed specifically in mammary tissue at late pregnancy and throughout lactation. A characteristic of whey acidic protein is the 'four-disulfide-core' signature which is also present in proteins involved in organ development. We have generated six lines of transgenic pigs which carry a mouse whey acidic protein transgene and express it at high levels in their mammary glands. Transgenic sows from three lines could not produce sufficient quantities of milk to support normal development of healthy offspring. This phenotype appears to be similar, if not identical, to the milchlos phenotype exhibited by mice expressing whey acidic protein transgenes. Mammary tissue from post-partum milchlos sows had an immature histological appearance, which was distinct from that observed during normal development or involution. Expression of the whey acidic protein transgene was found in mammary tissue from sexually immature pigs from milchlos lines, but not in sows from lines that appeared to lactate normally. We suggest that precocious synthesis of whey acidic protein impairs mammary development and function. Impaired mammary development due to inappropriate timing of whey acidic protein expression is consistent with the notion that proteins with the 'four-disulfide-core' signature participate in tissue formation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- A Shamay
- Laboratory of Biochemistry and Metabolism, NIDDK, National Institute of Health, Bethesda, MD 20982
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
53
|
High-level expression of the rat whey acidic protein gene is mediated by elements in the promoter and 3' untranslated region. Mol Cell Biol 1992. [PMID: 1545822 DOI: 10.1128/mcb.12.3.905] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The high-level expression of the rat whey acidic protein (WAP) gene in transgenic mice depends on the interaction of 5'-flanking promoter sequences and intragenic sequences. Constructs containing 949 bp of promoter sequences and only 70 bp of 3'-flanking DNA were expressed at uniformly high levels, comparable to or higher than that of the endogenous gene. Although this WAP transgene was developmentally regulated, it was expressed earlier during pregnancy than was the endogenous WAP gene. Replacement of 3' sequences, including the WAP poly(A) addition site, with simian virus 40 late poly(A) sequences resulted in an approximately 20-fold reduction in the expression of WAP mRNA in the mammary gland during lactation. Nevertheless, position-independent expression of the transgene was still observed. Further deletion of 91 bp of conserved WAP 3' untranslated region (UTR) led to integration site-dependent expression. Position independence was restored following reinsertion of the WAP 3' UTR into the deleted construct at the same location, but only when the insertion was in the sense orientation. The marked differences observed between the expression levels of the 3'-end deletion constructs in transgenic mice were not seen in transfected CID 9 mammary epithelial cells. In these cells, expression of the endogenous WAP gene was dependent on the interaction of these cells with a complex extracellular matrix. In contrast, the transfected WAP constructs were not dependent on extracellular matrix for expression. Thus, both the abnormal expression of WAP in cells cultured on plastic and the precocious developmental expression of WAP in transgenic mice may reflect the absence of a negative control element(s) within these recombinant constructs.
Collapse
|
54
|
Dale TC, Krnacik MJ, Schmidhauser C, Yang CL, Bissell MJ, Rosen JM. High-level expression of the rat whey acidic protein gene is mediated by elements in the promoter and 3' untranslated region. Mol Cell Biol 1992; 12:905-14. [PMID: 1545822 PMCID: PMC369522 DOI: 10.1128/mcb.12.3.905-914.1992] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
The high-level expression of the rat whey acidic protein (WAP) gene in transgenic mice depends on the interaction of 5'-flanking promoter sequences and intragenic sequences. Constructs containing 949 bp of promoter sequences and only 70 bp of 3'-flanking DNA were expressed at uniformly high levels, comparable to or higher than that of the endogenous gene. Although this WAP transgene was developmentally regulated, it was expressed earlier during pregnancy than was the endogenous WAP gene. Replacement of 3' sequences, including the WAP poly(A) addition site, with simian virus 40 late poly(A) sequences resulted in an approximately 20-fold reduction in the expression of WAP mRNA in the mammary gland during lactation. Nevertheless, position-independent expression of the transgene was still observed. Further deletion of 91 bp of conserved WAP 3' untranslated region (UTR) led to integration site-dependent expression. Position independence was restored following reinsertion of the WAP 3' UTR into the deleted construct at the same location, but only when the insertion was in the sense orientation. The marked differences observed between the expression levels of the 3'-end deletion constructs in transgenic mice were not seen in transfected CID 9 mammary epithelial cells. In these cells, expression of the endogenous WAP gene was dependent on the interaction of these cells with a complex extracellular matrix. In contrast, the transfected WAP constructs were not dependent on extracellular matrix for expression. Thus, both the abnormal expression of WAP in cells cultured on plastic and the precocious developmental expression of WAP in transgenic mice may reflect the absence of a negative control element(s) within these recombinant constructs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- T C Dale
- Department of Cell Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
55
|
McKnight RA, Burdon T, Pursel VG, Shamay A, Wall RJ, Hennighausen L. The whey acidic protein. Cancer Treat Res 1992; 61:399-412. [PMID: 1360242 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4615-3500-3_19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/25/2023]
|
56
|
Jaeger JL, Shimizu N, Gitlin JD. Tissue-specific ceruloplasmin gene expression in the mammary gland. Biochem J 1991; 280 ( Pt 3):671-7. [PMID: 1764031 PMCID: PMC1130506 DOI: 10.1042/bj2800671] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Using a ceruloplasmin cDNA clone in RNA blot analysis, a single 3.7 kb ceruloplasmin-specific transcript was detected in rat mammary gland tissue from pregnant and lactating animals. Ceruloplasmin gene expression in the mammary gland was tissue-specific, with no evidence of expression in brain, heart or other extrahepatic tissues. Ceruloplasmin mRNA was also detected in mammary gland tissue from male, virgin female and non-pregnant/multiparous animals, and the abundance of ceruloplasmin-specific transcripts in virgin female rats was independent of their stage of oestrus. In virgin female mammary gland the content of ceruloplasmin mRNA was 20% of that in hepatic tissue from these animals and approx. 2-3-fold greater than that found in mammary gland tissue of pregnant or lactating animals. Development studies revealed ceruloplasmin gene expression in male and female mammary gland by only 2 weeks of age, prior to the onset of puberty. Biosynthetic studies indicated that the ceruloplasmin mRNA in mammary gland tissue was translated into a 132 kDa protein qualitatively similar to that synthesized in liver. By in situ hybridization, ceruloplasmin gene expression was localized to the epithelium lining the mammary gland alveolar ducts, without evidence of expression in the surrounding mesenchyme. Ceruloplasmin gene expression was also detected in a human breast adenocarcinoma cell line and in biopsy tissue from women with invasive ductal carcinoma. Taken together, these data indicate that the mammary gland is a prominent site of extrahepatic ceruloplasmin gene expression and add to the evidence that ceruloplasmin biosynthesis is associated with growth and differentiation in non-hepatic tissues.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- J L Jaeger
- Edward Mallinckrodt Department of Pediatrics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
57
|
Burdon T, Wall RJ, Shamay A, Smith GH, Hennighausen L. Over-expression of an endogenous milk protein gene in transgenic mice is associated with impaired mammary alveolar development and a milchlos phenotype. Mech Dev 1991; 36:67-74. [PMID: 1782141 DOI: 10.1016/0925-4773(91)90073-f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
The whey acidic protein (WAP) gene is expressed in mammary epithelial cells at late pregnancy and throughout lactation. We have generated transgenic mice in which a mouse WAP transgene is expressed precociously in pregnancy. From 13 founder mice bearing WAP transgenes, two female founders and the daughters from a male founder failed to lactate and nurture their offspring. We named this phenotype milchlos. Mammary tissue from postpartum milchlos mice was underdeveloped, contained too few alveoli and resembled the glands of non-transgenic mid-pregnant mice. The hypothesis that alveolar development in milchlos mice was functionally arrested in a prelactational state is consistent with low levels of alpha-lactalbumin mRNA, and an unidentified keratin RNA in mammary tissue from postpartum mice. Defects in alveolar function in milchlos mice were detected at mid-pregnancy; in non-transgenic mice, WAP was secreted into the alveolar lumen but remained preferentially in the cytoplasm of the alveolar epithelial cells in the milchlos mice. Since deregulated WAP expression resulted in impaired mammary development, it is possible that WAP plays a regulatory role in the terminal differentiation and development of mammary alveolar cells.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- T Burdon
- Laboratory of Biochemistry and Metabolism, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
58
|
Whitelaw CB, Archibald AL, Harris S, McClenaghan M, Simons JP, Clark AJ. Targeting expression to the mammary gland: intronic sequences can enhance the efficiency of gene expression in transgenic mice. Transgenic Res 1991; 1:3-13. [PMID: 1844572 DOI: 10.1007/bf02512991] [Citation(s) in RCA: 100] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
We are studying the tissue-specific expression of the sheep milk-whey protein gene, beta-lactoglobulin. We have used sequences derived from this gene to target the expression of biomedical proteins into milk with the intention to exploit this technology in transgenic sheep as a means of protein production. In the present study, a series of beta-lactoglobulin hybrid genes and beta-lactoglobulin minigenes were evaluated for expression in the mammary gland of transgenic mice. In particular, we have assessed whether there is a requirement for introns for efficient transgene expression in the mammary gland, since the coding sequences of many candidate proteins are available only as cDNAs. The results suggest that the inclusion of natural introns in constructs can enhance the efficiency of transgene expression. Thus, a hybrid construct comprising 4.3 kb of the immediate 5' flanking sequences of beta-lactoglobulin fused to a genomic minigene encoding human alpha-antitrypsin (alpha 1AT) was expressed much more efficiently than an alpha 1AT-cDNA construct containing the same beta-lactoglobulin segment. Similarly, the intact beta-lactoglobulin gene was expressed more efficiently than the corresponding intronless beta-lactoglobulin minigene. This effect was not seen in transient expression experiments in baby hamster kidney cells when beta-lactoglobulin-alpha 1AT constructs were driven by SV40 enhancer sequences. The effect cannot be explained by a simple requirement for splicing, since the inclusion of the first beta-lactoglobulin intron into cDNA constructs encoding human alpha 1AT or beta-lactoglobulin itself failed to enhance the efficiency of transgene expression. It is concluded that sequence elements within introns may interact with the upstream 5' flanking sequences of beta-lactoglobulin and enable the latter to function efficiently in the mammary gland of transgenic mice.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- C B Whitelaw
- AFRC Institute of Animal Physiology and Genetics, Edinburgh Research Station, Roslin, Midlothian, Scotland, UK
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
59
|
Devinoy E, Maliénou-N'Gassa R, Thépot D, Puissant C, Houdebine LM. Hormone responsive elements within the upstream sequences of the rabbit whey acidic protein (WAP) gene direct chloramphenicol acetyl transferase (CAT) reporter gene expression in transfected rabbit mammary cells. Mol Cell Endocrinol 1991; 81:185-93. [PMID: 1797585 DOI: 10.1016/0303-7207(91)90217-g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Whey acidic protein gene transcription is induced in the mammary gland under the influence of lactogenic hormones: prolactin, insulin and cortisol. The rabbit WAP gene has already been isolated and sequenced in a previous work. In the present study, we have evaluated the role of the 5' flanking region of the rabbit WAP gene in the transcriptional regulation of the WAP gene by using a reporter CAT gene. Chimeric genes containing the upstream region of the WAP gene have been linked to the bacterial CAT gene and transfected into rabbit primary mammary cells. The results reported here show that two regions carrying important regulatory elements of the rabbit WAP gene are located between -6300 and -3000 bp, and between -3000 and -1800 bp upstream from the WAP transcription start point, respectively. The contribute to the high level of expression of the rabbit WAP gene in the mammary cell.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- E Devinoy
- Unité de Différenciation Cellulaire, Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique, Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
60
|
Wilmut I, Archibald AL, McClenaghan M, Simons JP, Whitelaw CB, Clark AJ. Production of pharmaceutical proteins in milk. EXPERIENTIA 1991; 47:905-12. [PMID: 1915774 DOI: 10.1007/bf01929881] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
There is every reason to expect that it will be possible within the next few years to begin to use farm animals to produce large quantities of some of the human proteins that are needed for the treatment of disease. Revolutionary new opportunities for the production of novel proteins in milk have been created by the development of methods for gene transfer. Exploitation of these opportunities depends upon selection and cloning of milk protein genes and identification of the sequences that govern tissue specific hormonally induced expression in the mammary gland. Studies with three genes, ovine beta-lactoglobulin, rat beta-casein and whey acidic protein of rat and mouse, suggest that they may all meet this requirement. Fragments of the ovine beta-lactoglobulin, murine whey acidic protein and rabbit beta-casein genes have directed production of novel proteins in the milk of transgenic mice, sheep, rabbits and pigs. The proteins were biologically active and usually co-migrated with authentic proteins. In early experiments, protein concentration was low, but our recent observations suggest that fusion genes containing genomic clones direct production of concentrations of protein that are suitable for commercial exploitation. In the longer term, two approaches may offer the potential of more reliable expression. Control elements capable of directing expression that is independent of site of insertion of the gene, but dependent on the number of copies of the gene, have been identified for a small number of genes. The availability of such elements for the milk protein genes would increase the reliability of gene expression considerably. Alternatively, targeted mutation of genes may allow the insertion of coding sequences within an existing gene so avoiding position effects.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- I Wilmut
- AFRC Institute of Animal Physiology and Genetics Research, Roslin, Midlothian, Scotland
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
61
|
Stinnakre MG, Vilotte JL, Soulier S, L'Haridon R, Charlier M, Gaye P, Mercier JC. The bovine alpha-lactalbumin promoter directs expression of ovine trophoblast interferon in the mammary gland of transgenic mice. FEBS Lett 1991; 284:19-22. [PMID: 2060621 DOI: 10.1016/0014-5793(91)80751-n] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
A hybrid construct derived from ovine trophoblastin cDNA and bovine alpha-lactalbumin-encoding gene, was injected into the pronuclei of mouse eggs. In one of the resulting transgenic mouse lines, expression of the hybrid construct was detected and found to be limited to the mammary gland of lactating females which secreted active ovine trophoblastin. This strongly suggests that important cis-acting DNA sequences involved in tissue-specific expression of the bovine gene are located within the second half of the 3' untranslated region, or/and the proximal 5' and 3' regions flanking the transcriptional unit.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- M G Stinnakre
- Laboratoire de Physiologie Comparée, Université Paris VI, France
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
62
|
Expression of a whey acidic protein transgene during mammary development. Evidence for different mechanisms of regulation during pregnancy and lactation. J Biol Chem 1991. [DOI: 10.1016/s0021-9258(20)89588-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 96] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
|
63
|
Wall RJ, Pursel VG, Shamay A, McKnight RA, Pittius CW, Hennighausen L. High-level synthesis of a heterologous milk protein in the mammary glands of transgenic swine. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 1991; 88:1696-700. [PMID: 1705703 PMCID: PMC51091 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.88.5.1696] [Citation(s) in RCA: 110] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
The whey acidic protein (WAP) is a major milk protein in mice, rats, and rabbits but has not been found in milk of livestock including swine. To determine whether mammary gland regulatory elements from the WAP gene function across species boundaries and whether it is possible to qualitatively alter milk protein composition, we introduced the mouse WAP gene into the genome of swine. Three lines of transgenic swine were analyzed, and mouse WAP was detected in milk from all lactating females at concentrations of about 1 g/liter; these levels are similar to those found in mouse milk. Expression of the corresponding RNA was specific to the mammary gland. Our results suggest that the molecular basis of mammary-specific gene expression is conserved between swine and mouse. In addition the WAP gene must share, with other milk protein genes, elements that target gene expression to the mammary gland. Mouse WAP accounted for about 3% of the total milk proteins in transgenic pigs, thus demonstrating that it is possible to produce high levels of a foreign protein in milk of farm animals. that it is possible to produce high levels of a foreign protein in
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- R J Wall
- Reproduction Laboratory, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Beltsville, MD 20705
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
64
|
Harris S, McClenaghan M, Simons JP, Ali S, Clark AJ. Developmental regulation of the sheep beta-lactoglobulin gene in the mammary gland of transgenic mice. DEVELOPMENTAL GENETICS 1991; 12:299-307. [PMID: 1718646 DOI: 10.1002/dvg.1020120407] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
beta-Lactoglobulin (BLG) is the most abundant whey protein in sheep milk but it is not present in mouse milk. We have previously shown that transgenic mice carrying the BLG gene express it specifically in the mammary gland and secrete BLG into milk at high concentrations. Here we demonstrate that BLG transcription is correctly initiated in mice and that BLG synthesis is restricted to the secretory epithelial cells of the mammary gland. We have also determined the temporal pattern of milk protein gene expression and find that the BLG transgene is regulated coordinately with mouse beta-casein and that the patterns of regulation of BLG in mouse and sheep share some similarities.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- S Harris
- AFRC Institute of Animal Physiology and Genetics Research, Edinburgh Research Station, Roslin, Midlothian, Scotland
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
65
|
Greenberg NM, Wolfe J, Rosen JM. Casein gene expression: from transfection to transgenics. Cancer Treat Res 1991; 61:379-97. [PMID: 1360241 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4615-3500-3_18] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/25/2023]
|
66
|
Hennighausen L, Ruiz L, Wall R. Transgenic animals — Production of foreign proteins in milk. Curr Opin Biotechnol 1990; 1:74-8. [PMID: 1367919 DOI: 10.1016/0958-1669(90)90013-b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
|
67
|
Affiliation(s)
- L Hennighausen
- Laboratory of Biochemistry and Metabolism, National Institutes of Diabetes, Digestive, and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892
| |
Collapse
|