title: A 4.3 kb Smad7 promoter is able to specify gene expression during mouse development.
abstract: Members of transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) superfamily play important roles in diverse biological functions including early development. These extracellular factors exert their effects by interacting with membrane receptors followed by signal transduction by a group of Smad proteins. Smad7 is an inhibitory Smad protein that specifically antagonizes TGF-beta and activin signaling. To characterize the developmental role of Smad7, a transgenic mouse model was generated using a 4.3 kb mouse Smad7 promoter driving beta-galactosidase expression. In these mice, the Smad7 promoter defined a restrictive expression pattern of beta-galactosidase in a tightly regulated temporal and spatial manner. The beta-galactosidase gene was transiently expressed in the cardiovascular structures including heart cushion tissues and the endothelium of major arteries at E11.5 to E12.5. Through E12.5 to E17.5, beta-galactosidase expression was prominently detected in the epithelium of developing cochlea and nasolacrimal duct. In addition, it was temporally expressed in trigeminal ganglion, the skeletal muscles surrounding major joints, primordium of the jaws, as well as genital tubercle. These studies indicated that the 4.3 kb Smad7 promoter contains sufficient regulatory elements to define controlled gene expression during mouse development.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics and the Walther Oncology Center, Indiana University School of Medicine, 975 West Walnut Street, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA.
authors.forename: Xubao
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Qian
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Chenzhong
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kuang
authors.forename: Meiyu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Yiwen
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ruan
authors.forename: Zao C
authors.initials: ZC
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Zhenzhen
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D030801:Animals, Genetically Modified; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian / Q000378:metabolism; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D051379:Mice; D023421:Models, Animal; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D051906:Smad7 Protein / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D001616:beta-Galactosidase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D051906:Smad7 Protein; D001616:beta-Galactosidase