Actin Promoter (actin + promoter)

Distribution by Scientific Domains


Selected Abstracts


Cre-mediated recombination in pituitary somatotropes

GENESIS: THE JOURNAL OF GENETICS AND DEVELOPMENT, Issue 1 2009
Igor O. Nasonkin
Abstract We report a transgenic line with highly penetrant cre recombinase activity in the somatotrope cells of the anterior pituitary gland. Expression of the cre transgene is under the control of the locus control region of the human growth hormone gene cluster and the rat growth hormone promoter. Cre recombinase activity was assessed with two different lacZ reporter genes that require excision of a floxed stop sequence for expression: a chick ,-actin promoter with the CMV enhancer transgene and a ROSA26 knock-in. Cre activity is detectable in the developing pituitary after initiation of Gh transcription and persists through adulthood with high penetrance in Gh expressing cells and lower penetrance in lactotropes, a cell type that shares a common origin with somatotropes. This Gh-cre transgenic line is suitable for efficient, cell-specific deletion of floxed regions of genomic DNA in differentiated somatotropes and a subset of lactotrope cells of the anterior pituitary gland. genesis 47:55,60, 2009. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]


Accumulation of amyloid-, protein in exocrine glands of transgenic mice overexpressing a carboxyl terminal portion of amyloid protein precursor

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL PATHOLOGY, Issue 4 2000
Ken-Ichiro Fukuchi
Amyloid-, protein (A,) and its precursor (,PP) play important roles in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer disease and inclusion-body myositis. In humans, A, deposits are found in brain, skeletal muscle, and skin. Therefore, we have investigated possible A, deposits in multiple tissues of two transgenic mouse lines overexpressing the signal plus A,-bearing 99-amino acid carboxyl terminal sequences of ,PP under the control of a cytomegalovirus enhancer/,-actin promoter. One of the lines developed A,-immunoreactive intracellular deposits consistently in the pancreas and lacrimal gland, and occasionally in gastric, DeSteno's, and lingual glands. Although the A, deposits increased during ageing and degenerative changes of the tissues were observed, little or no extracellular A, deposits were observed up to the age of 25 months. These lines of transgenic mice are useful for studying the molecular mechanisms of development and clearance of intracellular A, deposits. [source]


FRNK, the autonomously expressed C-terminal region of focal adhesion kinase, is uniquely regulated in vascular smooth muscle: Analysis of expression in transgenic mice

JOURNAL OF CELLULAR BIOCHEMISTRY, Issue 6 2005
Haruko Hayasaka
Abstract FRNK, the autonomously expressed carboxyl-terminal region of focal adhesion kinase (FAK), is expressed in tissues that are rich in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). Here we report the generation of transgenic mice harboring the putative FRNK promoter fused to LacZ and examine the promoter activity in situ via expression of ,-galactosidase. The transgenic mice exhibited expression of ,-galactosidase predominantly in arterial VSMCs in large and small blood vessels of major organs. Upregulation of ,-galactosidase activity was observed in tunica media following carotid injury, indicating that the FRNK promoter is activated in VSMCs in response to injury. Robust expression of ,-galactosidase in blood vessels was also detected in the developing embryo. However, expression was also observed in the midline, the nose and skin epidermis, indicating distinct transcriptional regulation of the FRNK promoter in embryogenesis. To analyze FRNK expression in vitro, we identified a 116 bp sequence in the FRNK promoter that was sufficient to function as an enhancer when fused to the minimal actin promoter and expressed in cultured smooth muscle cells. Mutation of AP-1 and NF-E2 binding consensus sequences within this element abrogated enhancer activity, supporting the involvement of this promoter element in VSMC expression of FRNK. © 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]


Timing of Human Insulin-Like Growth Factor-1 Gene Transfer in Reinnervating Laryngeal Muscle,

THE LARYNGOSCOPE, Issue 4 2004
Hideki Nakagawa MD
Abstract Objectives/Hypothesis The authors have designed a rat laryngeal paralysis model to study gene transfer strategies using a muscle-specific expression system to enhance local delivery of human insulin-like growth factor-1 (hIGF-1). In preliminary studies, a nonviral vector containing the ,-actin promoter and human hIGF-1 sequence produced both neurotrophic and myotrophic effects 1 month after single injection of plasmid formulation into paralyzed rat thyroarytenoid muscle in vivo. Based on these findings, it is hypothesized that the effects of hIGF-1 will enhance the results of laryngeal muscle innervation procedures. The timing of gene delivery relative to nerve repair is likely to be important, to optimize the results. Study Design Prospective analysis. Methods The effects of nonviral gene transfer for the delivery of hIGF-1 were evaluated in rats treated immediately following recurrent laryngeal nerve transection and repair and in rats receiving a delayed treatment schedule, 30 days after nerve transection and repair. Gene transfer efficiency was determined using polymerase chain reaction and reverse transcriptase,polymerase chain reaction techniques. Muscle fiber diameter, motor endplate length, and percentage of motor endplates with nerve contact were examined to assess hIGF-1 trophic effects. Results Compared with reinnervated untreated control samples, both early and delayed hIGF-1 transfer resulted in significant increase in muscle fiber diameter. Motor endplate length was significantly decreased and nerve/motor endplate contact was significantly increased following delayed gene transfer, but not after early treatment. Conclusion We infer from results of the study that delayed hIGF-1 gene transfer delivered by a single intramuscular injection will enhance the process of muscle reinnervation. The clinical relevance of these findings supports the future application of gene therapy using nonviral vectors for management of laryngeal paralysis and other peripheral nerve injuries. [source]


Rabies virus glycoprotein expression in Drosophila S2 cells: Influence of re-selection on protein expression

BIOTECHNOLOGY JOURNAL, Issue 11 2009
Alexandra Souza dos Santos
Abstract The aim of this study was to achieve expression of recombinant rabies virus glycoprotein (rRVGP) in Drosophila S2 cells. For this, a cDNA coding for the selection hygromycin antibiotic and the cDNA encoding the RVGP protein under the control of the constitutive actin promoter (Ac) were cloned in an expression plasmid, which was transfected into S2 cells. S2 cell populations (S2AcRVGPHy) showed rRVGP expression in cell lysates, attaining concentrations up to 1.5 ,g/107 cells (705 ,g/L). Of the transfected cells, 20% were shown to express the rRVGP. Cell subpopulations selected by limiting dilution expressed higher rRVGP yields and 90% of the cells were shown to express the rRVGP. Cell populations re-selected by addition of hygromycin were shown to express 10 times higher rRVGP yields. The data presented here show that Drosophila S2 cells can be efficiently transfected with an expression/selection plasmid for rRVGP expression, allowing its synthesis with a high degree of physical and biological integrity. The importance of subpopulation selection was indicated by the increasing rRVGP yields during these procedures. [source]


Effect of rice lines transformed with Bacillus thuringiensis toxin genes on the brown planthopper and its predator Cyrtorhinus lividipennis

ENTOMOLOGIA EXPERIMENTALIS ET APPLICATA, Issue 1 2002
Carmencita C. Bernal
Abstract Five transgenic rice lines, each containing an insecticidal toxin gene from Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) under control of a different promoter, were tested for effects on two non-target insects: the brown planthopper, Nilaparvata lugens (Stål) (Homoptera: Delphacidae), and its predator Cyrtorhinus lividipennis (Hemiptera: Miridae). Bt toxin was detected by ELISA in the honeydew of N. lugens that fed on rice lines with the CaMV 35S and actin promoters. Nilaparvata lugens produced greater volumes of acidic honeydew (derived from xylem feeding) on all five Bt rice lines than on non-transgenic control lines. The amount of honeydew derived from phloem feeding did not differ between Bt and control lines. There were no differences between N. lugens reared on Bt and control lines in any of the five fitness parameters measured (survival to the adult stage, male and female weight, and male and female developmental time). There were no differences between C. lividipennis reared on N. lugens nymphs from Bt and control lines, in any of the three fitness parameters examined (survival to the adult stage and male and female developmental time). Our results indicate that N. lugens and its natural enemies will be exposed to Bt toxins from rice lines transformed with some Bt gene constructs, but that this exposure might not affect N. lugens and C. lividipennis fitness. [source]