Enhancer detection in the ascidian Ciona intestinalis with transposase-expressing lines of Minos.
Germline transgenesis with a Tc1/mariner superfamily Minos transposon was achieved in the ascidian Ciona intestinalis. Transgenic lines that express transposases in germ cells are very useful for remobilizing transposon copies. In the present study, we created transposase-expressing lines of Minos in Ciona. A Ciona gene encoding protamine (Ci-prm) is expressed in the testes and sperm. Transgenic lines expressing Minos transposase in the testes and sperm were created with a cis-element of Ci-prm, and used for enhancer detection. Double-transgenic animals between transposase lines and a transgenic line with an enhancer detection vector passed on several independent enhancer detection events to subsequent progeny. This technique allowed us to isolate transgenic lines that express GFP in restricted tissues. This system provides an easy and efficient method for large-scale enhancer detection in Ciona intestinalis.
Sasakura
Yasunori
Y
Shimoda Marine Research Center, University of Tsukuba, Shimoda, Shizuoka, Japan. sasakura@kurofune.shimoda.tsukuba.ac.jp
Konno
Aru
A
Mizuno
Katsutoshi
K
Satoh
Nori
N
Inaba
Kazuo
K
D000818:Animals; D030801:Animals, Genetically Modified; D002938:Ciona intestinalis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D004251:DNA Transposable Elements / Q000235:genetics; D004742:Enhancer Elements, Genetic / Q000235:genetics*; D005854:Germ Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D008297:Male; D008954:Models, Biological; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000378:metabolism; D013737:Testis / Q000378:metabolism; D019895:Transposases / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism
D004251:DNA Transposable Elements; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins; C473499:Minos transposase; D019895:Transposases