Targeted expression of the only zinc finger gene in transgenic mice is associated with impaired mammary development.
The only zinc finger (OZF) gene encodes a protein consisting mainly of 10 zinc finger motifs of the Krüppel type of yet unknown function. To potentially assess its in vivo role, mammary targeted deregulation of the expression of the murine gene was performed in transgenic mice using a goat beta-casein-based transgene. Mammary expression of the transgene was observed in the 11 lines obtained. In three expressing lines, this expression was tissue-specific and developmentally regulated. Further analysis of mice from two expressing lines revealed that transgene-homozygous females could not sustain full growth of their pups. This phenotype was associated with an impaired mammary gland development noticeable only after mid-gestation. It was characterised by an increase of the adipocyte to acini ratio and low or absence of fat globules within these acini compared to non-transgenic control animals. These transgenic observations strongly suggest that OZF is active in the mammary gland, interfering with the lactation process and thus that the described transgenic mice could be useful models to search for the cellular partner(s) of this protein.
Besnar
Nathalie
N
Laboratoire de Génétique Biochimique et de Cytogénétique. I.N.R.A., Jouy-en-Josas, France.
Persuy
Marie-Annick
MA
Stinnakre
Marie-George
MG
Lepourry
Laurence
L
Da Silva
José Costa
JC
Goubin
Gerard
G
Vilotte
Jean-Luc
JL
D017667:Adipocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D017931:DNA Primers / Q000737:chemistry; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D051741:Kruppel-Like Transcription Factors; D007774:Lactation / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D008321:Mammary Glands, Animal / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D010957:Plasmids; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011247:Pregnancy; D011270:Pregnancy, Animal / Q000378:metabolism; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D016335:Zinc Fingers / Q000235:genetics*
C121310:ACIN1 protein, human; D017931:DNA Primers; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D051741:Kruppel-Like Transcription Factors; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins; C085944:ZNF146 protein, human