Application of genetically engineered animals in pharmacology: the use of green fluorescent protein for selective production of transgenic animals

Abstract

Transgenic animals are a very important tool not only for basic science but also for the pharmaceutical industry. The use of genetically engineered farm animals are suitable as a disease model. Production of a therapeutic protein such as human clotting factors by transgenic animals will reduce the risk of infection with human immunodeficiency virus and hepatitis virus. The efficiency of transgenic animal production, however, has been low and thus limited its application. We improved the efficiency using a green fluorescent protein (GFP) as a marker of gene integration. Using this method, we obtained 12 fetuses, and Southern blot analysis showed eight of them were transgenic, indicating transgenic embryos were successfully selected at the preimplantation stage. We also observed similar GFP expression in rat and bovine blastocysts. Application of this GFP selection method should improve the efficiency of transgenic livestock production.