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Mapping of cholecystokinin transcription in transgenic mouse brain using Escherichia coli β‐galactosidase reporter gene
Author(s) -
Itoh Yasuhiro,
Kozakai Ikuo,
Toyomizu Masaaki,
Ishibashi Teru,
Kuwano Ryozo
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
development, growth and differentiation
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.864
H-Index - 66
eISSN - 1440-169X
pISSN - 0012-1592
DOI - 10.1046/j.1440-169x.1998.t01-2-00004.x
Subject(s) - transgene , reporter gene , biology , gene , microbiology and biotechnology , promoter , gene expression , lac operon , transcription (linguistics) , genetically modified mouse , in situ hybridization , cholecystokinin , genetics , receptor , linguistics , philosophy
Cholecystokinin (CCK), a neuro‐gut peptide, occurs not only in the nervous but also in the digestive system. As a first step in elucidating whether CCK gene expression and its physiological functions co‐operate in these separate organs, transgenic mice were produced using CCK promoter that directs bacterial β‐ galactosidase as a reporter gene. A new transgenic vector was constructed, inserting the SV40 poly A signal 5' to the CCK promoter to impede any transcription upstream of the transgene. A 2.4 kb.p. region upstream to the transcription start site of the mouse CCK gene was used as the promoter. Transgene expression was detected first at embryonic 13.5 days in the central nervous system and increased after birth. The distribution of cells expressing β‐ galactosidase transgene agreed fairly well with that of in situ hybridization. In addition, the upregulation of CCK gene expression was clearly demonstrated by expressing β‐galactosidase after injury to the brain. These results indicated that the 2.4 kb.p. of the CCK gene promoter region was sufficient to direct appropriate tissue‐specific gene expression in mice.