Cell lineage ablation in transgenic mice by cell-specific expression of a toxin gene.
A method of deleting specific cell lineages has been developed that entails microinjection into fertilized eggs of a chimeric gene in which a cell-specific enhancer/promoter is used to drive the expression of a toxic gene product. We show that microinjection of a construct in which the elastase I promoter/enhancer is fused to a gene for diphtheria toxin A polypeptide results in birth of mice lacking a normal pancreas because of expression of the toxin in pancreatic acinar cells. A small pancreatic rudiment, containing islet and duct-like cells, was observed in some of the transgenic mice. This method provides a new approach for studying cell-lineage relationships and for analyzing cellular interactions during development.
D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D004274:DNA, Recombinant; D004167:Diphtheria Toxin / Q000235:genetics*; D004742:Enhancer Elements, Genetic; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D005809:Genes, Regulator; D051379:Mice; D008845:Microinjections; D009024:Morphogenesis; D010063:Ovum; D010179:Pancreas / Q000166:cytology / Q000201:enzymology; D010196:Pancreatic Elastase / Q000235:genetics; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic
D004274:DNA, Recombinant; D004167:Diphtheria Toxin; D010196:Pancreatic Elastase