Correction of a mouse model of Menkes disease by the human Menkes gene.
The brindled mouse is an accurate model of the fatal human X-linked copper deficiency disorder, Menkes disease. Males carrying the mutant allele of the Menkes gene orthologue Atp7a die in the second week of life. To determine whether the genetic defect in the brindled mice could be corrected by expression of the human Menkes gene, male transgenic mice expressing ATP7A from the chicken beta-actin composite promoter (CAG) were mated with female carriers of the brindled mutation (Atp7a(Mo-br)). Mutant males carrying the transgene survived and were fertile but the copper defect was not completely corrected. Unexpectedly males corrected with one transgenic line (T25#5) were mottled and resembled carrier females, this effect appeared to be caused by mosaic expression of the transgene. In contrast, males corrected with another line (T22#2) had agouti coats. Copper concentrations in tissues of the rescued mutants also resembled those of the heterozygous females, with high levels in kidney (84.6+/-4.9 microg/g in corrected males vs. 137.0+/-44.3 microg/g in heterozygotes) and small intestine (15.6+/-2.5 microg/g in corrected males vs. 15.7+/-2.8 microg/g in heterozygotes). The results show that the Menkes defect in mice is corrected by the human Menkes gene and that adequate correction is obtained even when the transgene expression does not match that of the endogenous gene.
Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, School of Life and Environmetal Sciences, Deakin University, Burwood 3125, Australia.
Roxana M
RM
Llanos
Bi-Xia
BX
Ke
Magali
M
Wright
Yolanda
Y
Deal
Francois
F
Monty
David R
DR
Kramer
Julian F B
JF
Mercer
D000251:Adenosine Triphosphatases / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D027682:Cation Transport Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D002645:Chickens; D003300:Copper / Q000378:metabolism*; D000073840:Copper-Transporting ATPases; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D005298:Fertility; D006801:Humans; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000378:metabolism; D007668:Kidney / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D007706:Menkes Kinky Hair Syndrome / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D009154:Mutation; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic
C486201:Atp7a protein, mouse; D027682:Cation Transport Proteins; D003300:Copper; D000251:Adenosine Triphosphatases; C081184:ATP7A protein, human; D000073840:Copper-Transporting ATPases