title: Impact of embryonic expression of enhanced green fluorescent protein on early mouse development.
abstract: The impact of embryonic enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP)-expression on development is not clear. In this study, we comprehensively assessed EGFP-expression pattern and its effect on early mouse development, following pronuclear-microinjection of the EGFP-transgene, containing chicken-beta-actin promoter and cytomegalovirus enhancer. Preimplantation embryos exhibited differential EGFP-expression patterns. While blastocyst development of non-expressing embryos was 77.3+/-1.8%, that of expressing embryos was only 43.9+/-1.6% (P<0.0001). Developmental competence of embryos negatively correlated (r=-0.99) with the levels of EGFP-expression. Faint-, moderate-, and intense-expressing embryos developed to 83.1+/-5.3%, 50+/-5%, and 9.5+/-3.9% blastocysts, respectively (P<0.002). Interestingly, blastocysts expressing faint-moderate levels of EGFP were developmentally competent through the post-implantation period and delivered viable transgenic 'green' mice, following embryo transfer. These results indicate that hyper-expression of EGFP affects preimplantation development and faint-moderate level of its expression is compatible with normal embryogenesis in the mouse.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Reproduction, Development and Genetics, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore 560012, India.
authors.forename: Vikram
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Devgan
authors.forename: Manchanahalli R S
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Rao
authors.forename: Polani B
authors.initials: PB
authors.lastname: Seshagiri
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001755:Blastocyst / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D004624:Embryo Transfer; D005314:Embryonic and Fetal Development / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D005453:Fluorescence; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D018014:Gene Transfer Techniques; D005819:Genetic Markers; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins; D008164:Luminescent Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D008845:Microinjections; D011247:Pregnancy; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D005819:Genetic Markers; D008164:Luminescent Proteins; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins