Expression of a mouse metallothionein-Escherichia coli β-galactosidase fusion gene (MT-βgal) in early mouse embryos
1989; Elsevier BV; Volume: 183; Issue: 2 Linguagem: Inglês
10.1016/0014-4827(89)90392-3
ISSN1090-2422
AutoresMary E. Stevens, Juanito J. Meneses, Roger A. Pedersen,
Tópico(s)Trace Elements in Health
ResumoWe have microinjected DNA containing the inducible mouse metallothionein-I (MT-I) promoter, coupled to the structural gene for Escherichia coli β-galactosidase (lacZ), into the pronuclei of one-cell mouse embryos. A qualitative histochemical assay, with 5-bromo-4-chloro-3-indolylβ-d-galactopyranoside (X-Gal) as a substrate, was used to detect expression of lacZ at several preimplantation stages. We observed staining indicative of exogenous β-galactosidase activity in 5–17% of DNA-injected embryos assayed at preimplantation stages after 16–24 h treatment with ZnSO4. Thus, lacZ can be used as an indicator gene for promoter function during early mouse embryogenesis, and the incorporation of the MT-I promoter into fusion genes can be a useful means of controlling the expression of exogenous genes in preimplantation mouse embryos.
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