title: Tissue specific expression of an alpha-skeletal actin-lacZ fusion gene during development in transgenic mice.
abstract: Transgenic mice carrying a chimaeric transgene containing 730 bp of the 5'-flanking sequences and the entire first intron of the rat alpha-skeletal actin gene fused to the lacZ reporter gene have been produced by microinjection. The lacZ reporter gene was used to verify the suitability of using the rat alpha-actin promoter elements to target expression of genes of agricultural and therapeutic value exclusively to skeletal and heart muscle cells and fibres of transgenic mice. Expression of the transgene indicates a tightly regulated developmental and muscle specific control of the rat alpha-skeletal actin gene, making it a useful promoter for gene targeting to muscle tissues. The cells destined to form muscle tissues in these transgenic mice are readily visualized in intact embryos by staining for beta-galactosidase activity, making them a suitable animal model for studying the origin and development of skeletal and cardiac muscle tissues.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Basic Sciences, Royal Veterinary College, University of London, UK.
authors.forename: E A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Asante
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Boswell
authors.forename: D W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Burt
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bulfield
mesh_terms: D000199:Actins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn / Q000378:metabolism; D001483:Base Sequence; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D017930:Genes, Reporter; D007763:Lac Operon / Q000235:genetics*; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008808:Mice, Inbred CBA; D008822:Mice, Transgenic / Q000196:embryology / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009132:Muscles / Q000378:metabolism*; D009928:Organ Specificity; D051381:Rats; D014170:Transformation, Genetic / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D000199:Actins