title: Stable expression of human growth hormone over 50 generations in transgenic insect larvae.
abstract: Developments in insect transgenesis using transposons combined with available mass rearing technology for insects such as the Medfly, Ceratitis capitata, provide opportunity for the production of protein for industrial, agricultural and healthcare purposes on a very large scale. In this study, we report the germ-line transformation and expression of a cDNA encoding human growth hormone (hGH) in transgenic Drosophila using the Minos transposon. Production and secretion of a bioactive hGH into the haemolymph of transgenic larvae was demonstrated by immunoblot analysis, ELISA and a proliferation bioassay. Stable expression of hGH was observed over 50 generations. The results indicate that mass reared transgenic diptera with a rapid period of larval growth could provide cost effective production systems for the manufacture of therapeutic and other high value proteins.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Foundation for Research and Technology Hellas, PO Box 1385, Heraklion, 71110, Greece.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Markaki
authors.forename: Dubravka
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Drabek
authors.forename: Ioannis
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Livadaras
authors.forename: Roger K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Craig
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Grosveld
authors.forename: Charalambos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Savakis
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D030801:Animals, Genetically Modified; D001483:Base Sequence; D017931:DNA Primers / Q000235:genetics; D004251:DNA Transposable Elements / Q000235:genetics; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects; D006458:Hemolymph / Q000378:metabolism; D019382:Human Growth Hormone / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D007814:Larva / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D013752:Tetracycline / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D017931:DNA Primers; D004251:DNA Transposable Elements; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D019382:Human Growth Hormone; D013752:Tetracycline