Novel embryonic stem cells expressing tdKaede protein photoconvertible from green to red fluorescence.
Kaede protein is a photoconvertible tracer that emits green fluorescence after synthesis, which changes to stable red fluorescence upon irradiation with violet or UV illumination. This color-change characteristic is a very effective means of optically marking living cells of interest. We established novel embryonic stem (ES) cell lines, B6KED-1 and -2, from C57BL/6J transgenic mouse blastocysts ubiquitously expressing tandem dimeric Kaede (tdKaede) protein. Undifferentiated B6KED-1 and -2 cells showed bright green fluorescence and mRNAs of pluripotent marker genes. Photoconversion of tdKaede protein in undifferentiated and differentiated B6KED cells in vitro occurred upon short-term UV irradiation. B6KED cells completely generated ES cell-derived females on transfer into tetraploid blastomeres. All organs showed strong green emission in the females derived completely from B6KED cells. These novel ES cell lines ubiquitously expressing photoconvertible Kaede protein, B6KED-1 and -2, are useful for basic research in developmental biology and regenerative medicine.
Shigematsu
Yoko
Y
Laboratory Animal Resource Center, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8575, Japan.
Yoshida
Naoki
N
Miwa
Yoshihiro
Y
Mizobuti
Atsushi
A
Suzuki
Yuko
Y
Tanimoto
Yoko
Y
Takahashi
Satoru
S
Kunita
Satoshi
S
Sugiyama
Fumihiro
F
Yagami
Ken-Ichi
K
D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D001755:Blastocyst / Q000166:cytology / Q000528:radiation effects; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000528:radiation effects; D002460:Cell Line; D002678:Chimera; D002999:Clone Cells; D003116:Color; D053595:Embryonic Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000528:radiation effects; D005260:Female; D005453:Fluorescence; D008027:Light; D008164:Luminescent Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D039904:Pluripotent Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000528:radiation effects; D039901:Totipotent Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000528:radiation effects