Confirmation of germ-line transmission in the red fluorescence protein (RFP) transgenic cloned male cat.
The production of transgenic animals is highly desirable for biotechnology and basic research. We investigated the reproductive ability of a red fluorescence protein (RFP) transgenic cloned male cat (RFP TG cat) by natural mating with a domestic female cat. The RFP expression levels were examined in early embryogenesis, tissues from 45-day-old two fetuses, and four RFP TG cat offspring. The RFP gene was detected in tissue samples from one dead kitten, including several organs and the skin. Also, under a fluorescent light source, we were able to directly detect the RFP expression of in in vitro-produced blastocysts derived with sperm from the RFP TG cat. These results indicate that the RFP TG cat exhibits normal reproductive fertility, stable germ-line transmission of the RFP transgene, and characteristic RFP expression in its offspring. We isolated feline neural progenitor cells from a 45-day-old fetus derived from the natural mating of the RFP TG cat with a domestic female cat. Isolated brain and retinal progenitor cells were successfully passaged at least four times post isolation (day 23), and showed a high RFP expression level. This method of producing genetically modified cloned cats will be important for generating biomedical models of human diseases.
Cho
Su-Jin
SJ
Division of Applied Life Science (BK21), Graduate School of Gyeongsang National University, Jinju 660-701, Republic of Korea.
Lee
Young S
YS
Lee
Jae-Ik
JI
Bang
Jae-Il
JI
Yang
Jing
J
Klassen
Henry
H
Kong
Il-Keun
IK
D000818:Animals; D030801:Animals, Genetically Modified; D002415:Cats; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D019976:Cloning, Organism / Q000379:methods; D047108:Embryonic Development / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D005854:Germ Cells; D006801:Humans; D017404:In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence; D007621:Karyotyping; D008164:Luminescent Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D018895:Microsatellite Repeats; D011247:Pregnancy; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology; D019076:Transgenes; D000097573:Red Fluorescent Protein
D008164:Luminescent Proteins; D000097573:Red Fluorescent Protein