Dynamic expression of a LEF-EGFP Wnt reporter in mouse development and cancer.
We have characterized a transgenic mouse line in which enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) is expressed under the control of multimerized LEF-1 responsive elements. In embryos, EGFP was detected in known sites of Wnt activation, including the primitive streak, mesoderm, neural tube, somites, heart, limb buds, mammary placodes, and whisker follicles. In vitro cultured transgenic embryonic fibroblasts upregulated EGFP expression in response to activation of Wnt signaling by GSK3beta inhibition. Mammary tumor cell lines derived from female LEF-EGFP transgenic mice treated with the carcinogen 7, 12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA) also express EGFP. Thus, this transgenic line is useful for ex vivo and in vitro studies of Wnt signaling in development and cancer.
Currier
Nicolas
N
Department of Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
Chea
Kathleen
K
Hlavacova
Mirka
M
Sussman
Daniel J
DJ
Seldin
David C
DC
Dominguez
Isabel
I
D015127:9,10-Dimethyl-1,2-benzanthracene; D000818:Animals; D002273:Carcinogens; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D038362:Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 / Q000378:metabolism; D000071679:Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 beta; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015151:Immunoblotting; D051821:Lymphoid Enhancer-Binding Factor 1 / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D008325:Mammary Neoplasms, Experimental / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D020218:Response Elements / Q000235:genetics; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured; D051153:Wnt Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D051176:beta Catenin / Q000378:metabolism
D002273:Carcinogens; C497574:Lef1 protein, mouse; D051821:Lymphoid Enhancer-Binding Factor 1; D051153:Wnt Proteins; D051176:beta Catenin; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins; D015127:9,10-Dimethyl-1,2-benzanthracene; D000071679:Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 beta; C000605507:Gsk3b protein, mouse; D038362:Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3