Targeted expression of Cre recombinase provokes placental-specific DNA recombination in transgenic mice. Academic Article uri icon

abstract

  • BACKGROUND: Inadequate placental development is associated with a high incidence of early embryonic lethality and serious pregnancy disorders in both humans and mice. However, the lack of well-defined trophoblast-specific gene regulatory elements has hampered investigations regarding the role of specific genes in placental development and fetal growth. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: By random assembly of placental enhancers from two previously characterized genes, trophoblast specific protein (Tpbpa) and adenosine deaminase (Ada), we identified a chimeric Tpbpa/Ada enhancer that when combined with the basal Ada promoter provided the highest luciferase activity in cultured human trophoblast cells, in comparison with non-trophoblast cell lines. We used this chimeric enhancer arrangement to drive the expression of a Cre recombinase transgene in the placentas of transgenic mice. Cre transgene expression occurred throughout the placenta but not in maternal organs examined or in the fetus. SIGNIFICANCE: In conclusion, we have provided both in vitro and in vivo evidence for a novel genetic system to achieve placental transgene expression by the use of a chimeric Tpbpa/Ada enhancer driven transgene. The availability of this expression vector provides transgenic opportunities to direct the production of desired proteins to the placenta.

published proceedings

  • PLoS One

altmetric score

  • 0.5

author list (cited authors)

  • Zhou, C. C., Chang, J., Mi, T., Abbasi, S., Gu, D., Huang, L. e., ... Xia, Y.

citation count

  • 10

complete list of authors

  • Zhou, Cissy Chenyi||Chang, Jiang||Mi, Tiejuan||Abbasi, Shahrzad||Gu, Dongmin||Huang, Le||Zhang, WenZheng||Kellems, Rodney E||Schwartz, Robert J||Xia, Yang

editor list (cited editors)

  • Milstone, D. S.

publication date

  • February 2012