title: Genotype-independent transmission of transgenic fluorophore protein by boar spermatozoa.
abstract: Recently, we generated transposon-transgenic boars (Sus scrofa), which carry three monomeric copies of a fluorophore marker gene. Amazingly, a ubiquitous fluorophore expression in somatic, as well as in germ cells was found. Here, we characterized the prominent fluorophore load in mature spermatozoa of these animals. Sperm samples were analyzed for general fertility parameters, sorted according to X and Y chromosome-bearing sperm fractions, assessed for potential detrimental effects of the reporter, and used for inseminations into estrous sows. Independent of their genotype, all spermatozoa were uniformly fluorescent with a subcellular compartmentalization of the fluorophore protein in postacrosomal sheath, mid piece and tail. Transmission of the fluorophore protein to fertilized oocytes was shown by confocal microscopic analysis of zygotes. The monomeric copies of the transgene segregated during meiosis, rendering a certain fraction of the spermatozoa non-transgenic (about 10% based on analysis of 74 F1 offspring). The genotype-independent transmission of the fluorophore protein by spermatozoa to oocytes represents a non-genetic contribution to the mammalian embryo.
authors: Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Mariensee, Germany.
authors: Wiebke
authors: W
authors: Garrels
authors: Stephanie
authors: S
authors: Holler
authors: Ulrike
authors: U
authors: Taylor
authors: Doris
authors: D
authors: Herrmann
authors: Christina
authors: C
authors: Struckmann
authors: Sabine
authors: S
authors: Klein
authors: Brigitte
authors: B
authors: Barg-Kues
authors: Monika
authors: M
authors: Nowak-Imialek
authors: Christine
authors: C
authors: Ehling
authors: Detlef
authors: D
authors: Rath
authors: Zoltán
authors: Z
authors: Ivics
authors: Heiner
authors: H
authors: Niemann
authors: Wilfried A
authors: WA
authors: Kues
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D030801:Animals, Genetically Modified; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D004251:DNA Transposable Elements / Q000235:genetics; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian; D005298:Fertility / Q000235:genetics / Q000528:radiation effects; D005838:Genotype; D008027:Light; D008164:Luminescent Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000528:radiation effects; D034421:Sus scrofa / Q000196:embryology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D014158:Transcription, Genetic / Q000528:radiation effects; D019076:Transgenes / Q000235:genetics*; D014960:X Chromosome / Q000235:genetics / Q000528:radiation effects; D014998:Y Chromosome / Q000235:genetics / Q000528:radiation effects
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D004251:DNA Transposable Elements; D008164:Luminescent Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C054562:yellow fluorescent protein, Bacteria