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The rat beta-casein gene is a member of a small gene family, encoding the principal milk proteins. In order to understand the mechanisms by which its stage- and tissue-specific expression are regulated, initially, a 14 kb genomic clone containing the entire 7.5 kb rat beta-casein gene with 3.5 kb of 5' and 3.0 kb of 3' flanking DNA was microinjected into the germline of mice. Eight F0 transgenic mice were generated with copy numbers ranging from 1-10; five transmitted the transgene to their offspring in a Mendelian pattern. A specific RNase protection assay was developed to quantitate the level of expression of the rat beta-casein transgene as compared to the endogenous mouse beta-casein gene. Using this assay expression was demonstrated predominantly in the lactating mammary gland of transgenic mice at a level of 0.01-1% of the endogenous mouse beta-casein gene. The transgene employed the authentic transcription initiation site observed previously in the analogous rat beta-casein gene. In one line, a reduced level of expression of the transgene was also observed in the brain. The site of integration, therefore, plays an important role in influencing the level of expression of the transgene, but not its general pattern of tissue-specificity. The transgene appears to be developmentally-regulated in accordance with the endogenous mouse beta-casein gene. These lines of mice generated carrying the rat beta-casein transgene should provide useful models for studying the developmental and hormonal regulation of milk protein gene expression.
K F Lee, and
F J DeMayo, and
S H Atiee, and
J M Rosen
May 1992,
European journal of biochemistry,
K F Lee, and
F J DeMayo, and
S H Atiee, and
J M Rosen
February 1989,
Molecular and cellular biology,
K F Lee, and
F J DeMayo, and
S H Atiee, and
J M Rosen
October 1984,
Cell,
K F Lee, and
F J DeMayo, and
S H Atiee, and
J M Rosen
March 1995,
Human molecular genetics,
K F Lee, and
F J DeMayo, and
S H Atiee, and
J M Rosen
November 1992,
Gene,
K F Lee, and
F J DeMayo, and
S H Atiee, and
J M Rosen
January 1985,
Nature,
K F Lee, and
F J DeMayo, and
S H Atiee, and
J M Rosen
October 1993,
The Journal of biological chemistry,
K F Lee, and
F J DeMayo, and
S H Atiee, and
J M Rosen
July 1993,
Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences,
K F Lee, and
F J DeMayo, and
S H Atiee, and
J M Rosen
April 1993,
Biochemical and biophysical research communications,
K F Lee, and
F J DeMayo, and
S H Atiee, and
J M Rosen
January 1989,
Developmental genetics,
