Manipulation of gene expression in transgenic mice using ribozymes
P.J. LíHuillier and J.L. Vilotte
Dairy Science Group, AgResearch, Ruakura Research Centre, Private
Bag 3123, Hamilton, New Zealand and Laboratoire de Genetique
Biochemique et de Cytogenetique, INRA-CRJ, 78352 Jouy-en-Josas, cedex,
France
Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production, 1996,
56: 42-44
This study describes the creation and analysis of transgenic mice
carrying a ribozyme or RNA enzyme that specifically targets the bovine a-
lactalbumin (a-lac) mRNA transcript. Using a MMTV-LTR promoter-based
construct, mammary specific high-level expression of a bovine a-lac-
targeted ribozyme was obtained in three out of twelve lines of transgenic
mice created. When crossed with mice transgenic for the bovine a-lac gene
(0.4 mg of a-lac.ml-1 of milk), expression of the ribozyme resulted in a
reduction in the levels of the target mRNA to 50% of that observed in the
non-ribozyme transgenic littermate controls. This activity was specific to the
bovine a-lac transcript as no reduction in the levels of the endogenous
murine a-lac mRNA was observed. These results demonstrate the feasibility
of ribozyme-mediated down-regulation of highly-expressed transcripts in
transgenic animals.
Keywords: NZSAPAB;
milk composition; a-lactalbumin; mammary gland; transgenesis.
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Last Updated 18-03-1997
