Using DNA Technology to Produce Transgenic Animals

Sherry Fuller-Espie, Ph.D., DIC Associate Professor, Cabrini College

Sherry Fuller-Espie, 2003

Transgenic Animals

Transgenic Animals: A Focus on Transgenic Mice Studies

http://www.hku.hk/biochem/tgcentre/transcentre.html

I. Introduction
Transgenic animals:
Animals which have been genetically engineered to contain one or more genes from an exogenous source. Transgenes are integrated into the genome. Transgenes can be transmitted through the germline to progeny. First transgenic animal produced = Founder Animal

II. Introduction of foreign genes into intact organisms

Procedure is basically the same regardless of

which animal is involved.

Integration usually occurs prior to DNA

replication in the fertilized oocyte.

Majority of transgenic animals carry the gene in all of their cells, including the germ cells. Transmission to next generation requires germline integration. Some integration events occur subsequent to DNA replication giving rise to mosaic animals which may or may not contain the transgene in its germline.

III. Procedure for Producing Transgenic Mice

Three different breeding pairs of mice are

required.

 First Breeding Pair: Fertile male + superovulated female

Fertile male = stud (changed regularly to ensure performance) Superovulated female = immature female induced to superovulate
Pregnant mares serum (=FSH) on day 1 Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (=LH) on day 3

Mated on day 3 Fertilized oocytes microinjected on day 4 with foreign DNA construct. Microinjected oocytes are transferred to the oviducts of surrogate mothers at end of day 4.

 Second breeding pair: Sterile male + surrogate mother

Sterile male produced through vasectomy Surrogate mother must mate to be suitable recipient of injected eggs Mated on day 3 Microinjected oocytes from first breeding pair are transferred to oviducts on day 4 Embryos implant in uterine wall and are born 19 days later. Southern blotting techniques confirm presence and copy number of transgenes.

 Third breeding pair:

Foster parents
Fertile male + female mated to give birth on same day surrogate mother Serves as foster parent if caesarian section is required for surrogate mother

 http://

www.itba.mi.cnr.it/human_g ...transgenic.html

IV. Manipulation of Fertilized Oocytes

See Slides

V. Gene Expression in Transgenic Mice

In order to discriminate the products of the injected

gene from those of an endogenous counterpart, the injected gene must be marked in some way.

Mini-genes where exons are deleted of cDNA where introns are absent. Modification by insertion/deletion/mutagenesis of a few nucleotides (e.g. the gain or loss of a restriction endonuclease site). Hybrid genes where foreign epitopes are expressed on transgenic products.

VI. Tissue-Specific Gene Expression

Generally, if a tissue-specific gene is expressed at all, then it

is expressed appropriately, despite the fact that it has integrated at a different chromosomal location.

VII. Examples of Studies Utilizing Transgenic Mice

Pharm animals (transgenic livestock)
Bioreactors whose cells have been engineered to synthesize marketable proteins DNA constructs contain desired gene and appropriate regulatory sequences (tissue-specific promoters) More economical than producing desired proteins in cell culture

 Naked human Hb from

pigs Human lactoferrin in cows milk Alpha-1-antitrypsin in sheep HGH in mouse urine (uroplakin promoters) Human antibodies in mice (H and L chain tgenics hybridomas)

CfTCR in goats Tissue plasminogen

activator (TPA) in goats Human antithrombin III in goats Malaria antigens in goats (vaccine) Alpha-glucosidase in rabbits (Pompes disease

VIII. Transgenic Pigs for the Production of Organs for Transplantation

Pig organs are rejected acutely due to the presence

of human antibodies to pig antigens.

Once human antibodies are bound to pig organs,

human complement is activated and triggers the complement cascade and organ destruction.

Transgenic pigs with complement inhibitors have

been produced and are gaining feasibility as a source of xenogeneic organs for transplantation.