The human cytomegalovirus immediate-early promoter is transcriptionally active in undifferentiated mouse embryonic stem cells.
It has been reported recently that the cytomegalovirus (CMV) immediate-early promoter is transcriptionally inactive in undifferentiated mouse embryonic stem (ES) cells. This result is surprising, since the CMV promoter is used to express transgenes in a variety of cell lines. We studied the expression of a human CMV-driven enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) reporter gene (pEGFP-N1) in five undifferentiated mouse ES cell lines (BL/6III, D3, E14TG2a, MESC20, and 129) and found EGFP expression in all of these cell lines. Under optimal conditions, between 50%-80% transfection efficiencies could be achieved, and EGFP expression levels were maintained for at least 72 hours. Therefore, the human CMV promoter remains a useful system for transgene expression in undifferentiated ES cells.
D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000235:genetics*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003587:Cytomegalovirus / Q000235:genetics*; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000821:virology; D005333:Fetus; D015967:Gene Expression Regulation, Viral / Q000235:genetics; D017781:Genes, Immediate-Early / Q000235:genetics*; D017930:Genes, Reporter / Q000235:genetics; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins; D006801:Humans; D008164:Luminescent Proteins; D051379:Mice; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic / Q000235:genetics*; D039901:Totipotent Stem Cells / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000821:virology; D014158:Transcription, Genetic / Q000235:genetics*; D019076:Transgenes / Q000235:genetics
D008164:Luminescent Proteins; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins