Creating a conditional mutation of Wnt-1 by antisense transgenesis provides evidence that Wnt-1 is not essential for spermatogenesis.
We have used mice transgenic for an antisense construct for Wnt-1 to study the role of this gene in post-meiotic sperm development. The human PGK-2 promoter provided levels of Wnt-1 antisense mRNA in testes in 5 transgenic lines greatly in excess of Wnt-1 mRNA concentrations, and Wnt-1 mRNA levels were greatly decreased in the lines, by 98% in three of them. There was a general correlation between copy number of the insert, levels of antisense RNA, and decreases in mRNA. There was little effect of the antisense transgene on fertility or testicular histology suggesting that normal levels of Wnt-1 transcript are not essential for spermatogenesis.
Erickson
R P
RP
Steele Memorial Children's Research Center, University of Arizona, College of Medicine, Tucson 85724.
Lai
L W
LW
Grimes
J
J
D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D005298:Fertility / Q000235:genetics; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009928:Organ Specificity; D010735:Phosphoglycerate Kinase / Q000235:genetics; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D016372:RNA, Antisense / Q000235:genetics*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D013091:Spermatogenesis / Q000235:genetics*; D013737:Testis / Q000648:ultrastructure; D051153:Wnt Proteins; D051155:Wnt1 Protein; D029961:Zebrafish Proteins
D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D016372:RNA, Antisense; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D051153:Wnt Proteins; D051155:Wnt1 Protein; C495246:Wnt1 protein, mouse; D029961:Zebrafish Proteins; D010735:Phosphoglycerate Kinase