lacZ Cassette Research Articles

TaqMan Multiplex qPCR Method to Genotype PARG Knockout Mice.

Members of PARP family are responsible for poly(ADP-ribose) (pADPr) posttranslational modification synthesis. They are intensively studied proteins with more than 20,500 related papers in PubMed database search to date. PARG, the main enzyme that degrades pADPr, is unfairly attracted less attention, and 40 times less papers (a little more than 500) are related to its functioning. The difficulties to work with PARG knockout animals due to its early embryo lethality could be one reason for this huge difference. Mice PARG-specific antibodies are not available from any vendor, which also complicates the research process. There is one available for public PARG knockout mice line generated by KOMP project. It has LacZ cassette, which replaces three critical exons in PARG gene. Here, we present the method to genotype these mice with Taqman qPCR multiplex approach. It allows to work with a small amount of DNA material like early embryo stages and to separate maternal DNA contamination. The modification of this method is also applicable for studying PARG conditional knockouts and identifying the success of floxed PARG gene exon deletion by Cre-driven recombination.

Lack of evidence for participation of TMEM150C in sensory mechanotransduction.

The membrane protein TMEM150C has been proposed to form a mechanosensitive ion channel that is required for normal proprioceptor function. Here, we examined whether expression of TMEM150C in neuroblastoma cells lacking Piezo1 is associated with the appearance of mechanosensitive currents. Using three different modes of mechanical stimuli, indentation, membrane stretch, and substrate deflection, we could not evoke mechanosensitive currents in cells expressing TMEM150C. We next asked if TMEM150C is necessary for the normal mechanosensitivity of cutaneous sensory neurons. We used an available mouse model in which the Tmem150c locus was disrupted through the insertion of a LacZ cassette with a splice acceptor that should lead to transcript truncation. Analysis of these mice indicated that ablation of the Tmem150c gene was not complete in sensory neurons of the dorsal root ganglia (DRG). Using a CRISPR/Cas9 strategy, we made a second mouse model in which a large part of the Tmem150c gene was deleted and established that these Tmem150c-/- mice completely lack TMEM150C protein in the DRGs. We used an ex vivo skin nerve preparation to characterize the mechanosenstivity of mechanoreceptors and nociceptors in the glabrous skin of the Tmem150c-/- mice. We found no quantitative alterations in the physiological properties of any type of cutaneous sensory fiber in Tmem150c-/- mice. Since it has been claimed that TMEM150C is required for normal proprioceptor function, we made a quantitative analysis of locomotion in Tmem150c-/- mice. Here again, we found no indication that there was altered gait in Tmem150c-/- mice compared to wild-type controls. In summary, we conclude that existing mouse models that have been used to investigate TMEM150C function in vivo are problematic. Furthermore, we could find no evidence that TMEM150C forms a mechanosensitive channel or that it is necessary for the normal mechanosensitivity of cutaneous sensory neurons.

Synapse-specific Lrp4 mRNA enrichment requires Lrp4/MuSK signaling, muscle activity and Wnt non-canonical pathway

BackgroundThe neuromuscular junction (NMJ) is a peripheral synapse critical to muscle contraction. Like acetylcholine receptors (AChRs), many essential proteins of NMJ are extremely concentrated at the postjunctional membrane. However, the mechanisms of synapse-specific concentration are not well understood; furthermore, it is unclear whether signaling molecules critical to NMJ formation and maintenance are also locally transcribed.ResultsWe studied the β-gal activity encoded by a lacZ cassette driven by the promoter of the Lrp4 gene. As reported for Lrp4 mRNA, β-gal was in the central region in embryonic muscles and at the NMJ after its formation. However, β-gal was no longer in the central areas of muscle fibers in Lrp4 or MuSK mutant mice, indicating a requirement of Lrp4/MuSK signaling. This phenotype could be rescued by transgenic expression of LRP4 with a transmembrane domain but not soluble ECD in Lrp4 mutant mice. β-gal and AChR clusters were distributed in a broader region in lacZ/ECD than that of heterozygous lacZ/+ mice, indicating an important role of the transmembrane domain in Lrp4 signaling. Synaptic β-gal activity became diffused after denervation or treatment with µ-conotoxin, despite its mRNA was increased, indicating synaptic Lrp4 mRNA enrichment requires muscle activity. β-gal was also diffused in aged mice but became re-concentrated after muscle stimulation. Finally, Lrp4 mRNA was increased in C2C12 myotubes by Wnt ligands in a manner that could be inhibited by RKI-1447, an inhibitor of ROCK in Wnt non-canonical signaling. Injecting RKI-1447 into muscles of adult mice diminished Lrp4 synaptic expression.ConclusionsThis study demonstrates that synapse-specific enrichment of Lrp4 mRNA requires a coordinated interaction between Lrp4/MuSK signaling, muscle activity, and Wnt non-canonical signaling. Thus, the study provides a new mechanism for Lrp4 mRNA enrichment. It also provides a potential target for the treatment of NMJ aging and other NMJ-related diseases.

Characterization of bone morphology in CCN5/WISP5 knockout mice.

CCN5/WISP2 is part of the CCN family of matricellular proteins, but is distinct in that it lacks the C-terminal (CT) domain. Although CCN5 has been shown to impact cell proliferation and differentiation in vitro, its role in vivo is unclear. We therefore generated mice using ES cells developed by the Knockout Mouse Project (KOMP) in which exons 2-5, which encode the all of the conserved protein coding regions, are replaced by a lacZ cassette. Ccn5 LacZ/LacZ mice were viable and apparently normal. Based on previous studies showing that CCN5 impacts osteoblast proliferation and differentiation, we performed an analysis of adult bone phenotype. LacZ expression was examined in adult bone, and was found to be strong within the periosteum, but not in trabecular bone or bone marrow. Micro-CT analysis revealed no apparent changes in bone mineral density (BMD) or bone tissue volume (BV/TV) in Ccn5 LacZ/LacZ mice. These studies indicate that CCN5 is not required for normal bone formation, but they do not rule out a role in mechanotransduction or repair processes. The availability of Ccn5 LacZ mice enables studies of CCN5 expression and function in multiple tissues.

Deletion of PIKfyve alters alveolar macrophage populations and exacerbates allergic inflammation in mice.

Alveolar macrophages (AMs) are specialized tissue-resident macrophages that orchestrate the immune responses to inhaled pathogens and maintain organ homeostasis of the lung. Dysregulation of AMs is associated with allergic inflammation and asthma. Here, we examined the role of a phosphoinositide kinase PIKfyve in AM development and function. Mice with conditionally deleted PIKfyve in macrophages have altered AM populations. PIKfyve deficiency results in a loss of AKT activation in response to GM-CSF, a cytokine critical for AM development. Upon exposure to house dust mite extract, mutant mice display severe lung inflammation and allergic asthma accompanied by infiltration of eosinophils and lymphoid cells. Moreover, they have defects in production of retinoic acid and fail to support incorporation of Foxp3+ Treg cells in the lung, resulting in exacerbation of lung inflammation. Thus, PIKfyve plays a role in preventing excessive lung inflammation through regulating AM function.

Transcription of dbp from the coding region of the Bm17 gene is required for the efficient propagation of Bombyx mori nucleopolyhedrovirus

A Bombyx mori nucleopolyhedrovirus (BmNPV) mutant was generated, in which Bm17 was disrupted by the insertion of a lacZ reporter cassette. This mutant (Bm17D) exhibited defective phenotypes, i.e., budded viruses (BVs) and occlusion bodies (OBs) were less produced in both B. mori cultured cells and larvae. However, a repair virus (Bm17DR), lacking endogenous Bm17 but expressing Bm17 with its endogenous promoter at a different genomic locus, did not rescue most of the defective phenotypes of Bm17D. Transcriptional units in the Bm17 region were surveyed in detail using a transcriptome map of BmNPV-infected cells. It was found that one of the transcriptional start sites (TSSs) of dbp (Bm16) is located within the Bm17 coding region and that it does not likely function in the genome of Bm17D- or Bm17DR by inserting a lacZ cassette. From the obtained results, it was shown that both dbp transcription and DBP protein expression were markedly reduced in Bm17D- or Bm17DR-infected cells. This indicates that reduced dbp transcription alone results in decreased BV and OB production during BmNPV infection.

Fate of Prominin-1 Expressing Dermal Papilla Cells during Homeostasis, Wound Healing and Wnt Activation

Prominin-1/CD133 (Prom1) is expressed by fibroblasts in the dermal papilla (DP) of the hair follicle (HF). By examining endogenous Prom1 expression and expression of LacZ in the skin of Prom1CreERLacZ (Prom1C-L) mice, in which a CreERT2-IRES-nuclear LacZ cassette is knocked into the first ATG codon of Prom1, we confirmed that Prom1 is expressed in the DP of all developing HFs and also by postnatal anagen follicles. To analyze the fate of Prom1+ DP cells, we crossed Prom1C-L mice with Rosa26-CAG flox/stop/flox tdTomato reporter mice and applied 4-hydroxytamoxifen (4OHT) to back skin at postnatal day (P) 1 and P2. We detected tdTomato+ cells in ~50% of DPs. The proportion of labeled cells per DP increased between P5 and P63, while the total number of cells per DP declined. Following full thickness wounding, there was no migration of tdTomato-labeled cells out of the DP. When β-catenin was activated in Prom1+ DP cells there was an increase in the size of anagen and telogen DP, but the proportion of tdTomato-labeled cells did not increase. We conclude that Prom1+ DP cells do not contribute to dermal repair but are nevertheless capable of regulating DP size via β-catenin-mediated intercellular communication.

Abstract 182: CTRP9 - A Novel Cardiac Derived Secreted Factor With Anti-hypertrophic Properties

Background: CTRP9 (also called C1qtnf9) is a newly discovered secreted protein and a paralog of adiponectin. The biological functions of CTRP9, however, are still largely unknown. Results: Although previous data from a semi-quantitative real-time PCR had suggested that CTRP9 is mainly secreted by adipose tissue, we found its mRNA to be predominantly expressed in the heart by quantitative real-time PCR. Interestingly, we identified CTRP9 mRNA as significantly upregulated in hypertrophied mouse hearts (after 2 weeks of aortic constriction, TAC) as well as in hypertrophied human hearts (24±4-fold versus healthy human myocardium; p<0.01). LacZ staining in myocardial sections of C1qtnf9 tm1(KOMP)Vlcg mice (knock-out for CTRP9, containing a lacZ cassette to replace exon 1-3 of the gene) revealed exclusive expression of CTRP9 in capillary and venous endothelial cells. Adenoviral overexpression of CTRP9 or recombinant CTRP9 strongly inhibited cardiomyocyte hypertrophy (assessed as cell size, protein/DNA-ratio, expression of skeletal α-actin) after stimulation with phenylephrine (PE). Accordingly, myocardial overexpression of CTRP9 via a cardioselective adeno-associated virus (AAV9-CTRP9) in mice dramatically reduced cardiac hypertrophy after two weeks of pressure overload (heart weight/body weight ratio, HW/BW in mg/g: AAV9-control 6.5±0.2 versus AAV9-CTRP9 5.6±0.2; p<0.01). In turn, downregulation of CTRP9 by a specific siRNA aggravated cardiomyocyte growth in response to PE in vitro and CTRP9 knock-out (KO) mice exerted an enhanced hypertrophic response after two weeks of TAC in vivo (% increase in HW/BW versus sham: wild-type 77±13, KO 106±9; p<0.05). Mechanistically, we found that CTRP9 binds to the adiponectin receptor 1 (AdipoR1) and inhibits prohypertrophic mTOR signalling in cardiac myocytes. SiRNA mediated downregulation of AdipoR1 or mTOR in neonatal rat cardiomyocytes abolished the anti-hypertrophic effect of CTRP9. Conclusion: Endothelial cell derived CTRP9 inhibits cardiac hypertrophy through binding to AdipoR1 and inhibition of the mTOR pathway in cardiomyocytes. Therefore, myocardial application of CTRP9 could be a novel strategy to combat pathological cardiac hypertrophy.

The Degenerin/ENaC channel, encoded by ACCN5, serves a critical function in the vestibulocerebellum

ACCN5 encodes the BLINaC/hINaC member of the Deg/ENaC ion channel family. As we demonstrate using a novel mouse line that we engineered to contain a LacZ cassette knockin that interrupts the third exon of this gene, BLINaC has a unique expression profile for a Deg/ENaC channel. Similar to acid‐sensing channels, it is expressed in neurons. But also similar to the epithelial Na+ channel, it is expressed in epithelial cells, particularly those lining the hepatic bile duct. Thus, BLINaC is the only known mammalian Deg/ENaC channel to be expressed in both neurons and epithelial cells. In the brain, BLINaC is restrictively expressed in a subset of interneurons in the cerebellum. Specifically, BLINaC is expressed in unipolar brush cells (UBC) of lobule IX and X. These cells serve a key function in the vestibulocerebellum. Deletion of ACCN5 in our novel ACCN5 null mouse line results in abnormal coordination and balance as measured with standard tests of behavior. It is likely that this phenotype results UBC dysfunction. These results are consistent with BLINaC serving a critical function in UBC that is key to normal vestibulocerebellar function and motor control of balance.

Genetic Transformation of a Clinical (Genital Tract), Plasmid-Free Isolate of Chlamydia trachomatis: Engineering the Plasmid as a Cloning Vector

Our study had three objectives: to extend the plasmid-based transformation protocol to a clinical isolate of C. trachomatis belonging to the trachoma biovar, to provide “proof of principle” that it is possible to “knock out” selected plasmid genes (retaining a replication competent plasmid) and to investigate the plasticity of the plasmid. A recently developed, plasmid-based transformation protocol for LGV isolates of C. trachomatis was modified and a plasmid-free, genital tract C. trachomatis isolate from Sweden (SWFP-) was genetically transformed. Transformation of this non-LGV C. trachomatis host required a centrifugation step, but the absence of the natural plasmid removed the need for plaque purification of transformants. Transformants expressed GFP, were penicillin resistant and iodine stain positive for accumulated glycogen. The transforming plasmid did not recombine with the host chromosome. A derivative of pGFP::SW2 carrying a deletion of the plasmid CDS5 gene was engineered. CDS5 encodes pgp3, a protein secreted from the inclusion into the cell cytoplasm. This plasmid (pCDS5KO) was used to transform C. trachomatis SWFP-, and established that pgp3 is dispensable for plasmid function. The work shows it is possible to selectively delete segments of the chlamydial plasmid, and this is the first step towards a detailed molecular dissection of the role of the plasmid. The 3.6 kb β-galactosidase cassette was inserted into the deletion site of CDS5 to produce plasmid placZ-CDS5KO. Transformants were penicillin resistant, expressed GFP and stained for glycogen. In addition, they expressed β-galactosidase showing that the lacZ cassette was functional in C. trachomatis. An assay was developed that allowed the visualisation of individual inclusions by X-gal staining. The ability to express active β-galactosidase within chlamydial inclusions is an important advance as it allows simple, rapid assays to measure directly chlamydial infectivity without the need for plaquing, fluorescence or antibody staining.

Functional characterization of Bombyx mori nucleopolyhedrovirus CG30 protein

The baculovirus cg30 gene is present in the genomes of most alphabaculoviruses. The gene product, CG30, contains two putative functional domains, a RING finger motif and a leucine zipper motif. A gene-knockout study in Autographa californica nucleopolyhedrovirus (AcMNPV) revealed that a cg30-disrupted virus did not show any striking differences compared with wild-type virus. To determine the roles of cg30 in another alphabaculovirus, we constructed two Bombyx mori NPV (BmNPV) mutants lacking a functional cg30 by lacZ cassette insertion and characterized its infectivity in BmN cells and B. mori larvae. The mutants produced fewer budded viruses (BVs) in BmN cells and B. mori larvae compared with wild-type BmNPV. We also observed a decrease in the release of occlusion bodies (OBs) in the hemolymph of the larvae infected with the cg30 mutants. To investigate the role of a RING finger domain of CG30 during virus growth, we further constructed two mutants; one expressed a mutant CG30 where a RING finger motif is disrupted by a single amino acid substitution, whereas the other possessed a CG30 derivative that completely lacked the RING finger domain. Both produced fewer OBs in the hemolymph of B. mori larvae, demonstrating that a RING finger domain of CG30 is involved in maximum OB production in the hemolymph of B. mori larvae. We also revealed that CG30 is expressed as a nuclear protein with a molecular mass of 30kDa in BmNPV-infected cells.

Novel Reporter Alleles of GSK-3α and GSK-3β

Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 (GSK-3) is a key player in development, physiology and disease. Because of this, GSK-3 inhibitors are increasingly being explored for a variety of applications. In addition most analyses focus on GSK-3β and overlook the closely related protein GSK-3α. Here, we describe novel GSK-3α and GSK-3β mouse alleles that allow us to visualise expression of their respective mRNAs by tracking β-galactosidase activity. We used these new lacZ alleles to compare expression in the palate and cranial sutures and found that there was indeed differential expression. Furthermore, both are loss of function alleles and can be used to generate homozygous mutant mice; in addition, excision of the lacZ cassette from GSK-3α creates a Cre-dependent tissue-specific knockout. As expected, GSK3α mutants were viable, while GSK3β mutants died after birth with a complete cleft palate. We also assessed the GSK-3α mutants for cranial and sternal phenotypes and found that they were essentially normal. Finally, we observed gestational lethality in compound GSK-3β−/−; GSK3α+/− mutants, suggesting that GSK-3 dosage is critical during embryonic development.

A Resource for the Conditional Ablation of microRNAs in the Mouse

The importance of miRNAs during development and disease processes is well established. However, most studies have been done in cells or with patient tissues, and therefore the physiological roles of miRNAs are not well understood. To unravel in vivo functions of miRNAs, we have generated conditional, reporter-tagged knockout-first mice for numerous evolutionarily conserved miRNAs. Here, we report the generation of 162 miRNA targeting vectors, 64 targeted ES cell lines, and 46 germline-transmitted miRNA knockout mice. In vivo lacZ reporter analysis in 18 lines revealed highly tissue-specific expression patterns and their miRNA expression profiling matched closely with published expression data. Most miRNA knockout mice tested were viable, supporting a mechanism by which miRNAs act redundantly with other miRNAs or other pathways. These data and collection of resources will be of value for the in vivo dissection of miRNA functions in mouse models.

Ucma is not necessary for normal development of the mouse skeleton

Ucma (Upper zone of growth plate and Cartilage Matrix Associated protein) is a highly conserved tyrosine-sulphated secreted protein of Mw 17kDa, which is expressed by juvenile chondrocytes.To evaluate the physiological function of this novel cartilage protein, we generated a Ucma-deficient mouse strain by introducing a lacZ/neoR-cassette into the first exon of the Ucma gene. This mutation results in the complete loss of Ucma mRNA and protein expression. Surprisingly, however, although previous in vitro studies implied a role for Ucma in calcification and ossification, these processes were not affected in Ucma-deficient mice during normal development. Likewise, cartilage development was normal. While in previous works Ucma was mainly detected in the cartilage of embryonic and young mice, we detected Ucma expression also in the adult cartilage of the ribs using the lacZ cassette under the control of the Ucma promoter. Moreover, Ucma protein was specifically detected in adult growth plate cartilage by immunohistochemistry. Considering that skeletal development in Ucma-deficient mice is not significantly impaired, protein expression in adult cartilage indicates that Ucma might be involved in skeletal homeostasis and in the mechanical properties of the skeleton during challenging conditions such as ageing or disease.

ADAMTS9 Is a Cell-Autonomously Acting, Anti-Angiogenic Metalloprotease Expressed by Microvascular Endothelial Cells

The metalloprotease ADAMTS9 participates in melanoblast development and is a tumor suppressor in esophageal and nasopharyngeal cancer. ADAMTS9 null mice die before gastrulation, but, ADAMTS9+/- mice were initially thought to be normal. However, when congenic with the C57Bl/6 strain, 80% of ADAMTS9+/- mice developed spontaneous corneal neovascularization. beta-Galactosidase staining enabled by a lacZ cassette targeted to the ADAMTS9 locus showed that capillary endothelial cells (ECs) in embryonic and adult tissues and in capillaries growing into heterotopic tumors expressed ADAMTS9. Heterotopic B.16-F10 melanomas elicited greater vascular induction in ADAMTS9+/- mice than in wild-type littermates, suggesting a potential inhibitory role in tumor angiogenesis. Treatment of cultured human microvascular ECs with ADAMTS9 small-interfering RNA resulted in enhanced filopodial extension, decreased cell adhesion, increased cell migration, and enhanced formation of tube-like structures on Matrigel. Conversely, overexpression of catalytically active, but not inactive, ADAMTS9 in ECs led to fewer tube-like structures, demonstrating that the proteolytic activity of ADAMTS9 was essential. However, unlike the related metalloprotease ADAMTS1, which exerts anti-angiogenic effects by cleavage of thrombospondins and sequestration of vascular endothelial growth factor165, ADAMTS9 neither cleaved thrombospondins 1 and 2, nor bound vascular endothelial growth factor165. Taken together, these data identify ADAMTS9 as a novel, constitutive, endogenous angiogenesis inhibitor that operates cell-autonomously in ECs via molecular mechanisms that are distinct from those used by ADAMTS1.

Adamts5, the gene encoding a proteoglycan-degrading metalloprotease, is expressed by specific cell lineages during mouse embryonic development and in adult tissues

The secreted metalloprotease ADAMTS5 is implicated in destruction of the cartilage proteoglycan aggrecan in arthritis, but its physiological functions are unknown. Its expression profile during embryogenesis and in adult tissues is therefore of considerable interest. β-Galactosidase (β-gal) histochemistry, enabled by a LacZ cassette inserted in the Adamts5 locus, and validated by in situ hybridization with an Adamts5 cRNA probe and ADAMTS5 immunohistochemistry, was used to profile Adamts5 expression during mouse embryogenesis and in adult mouse tissues. Embryonic expression was scarce prior to 11.5 days of gestation (E11.5) and noted only in the floor plate of the developing brain at E9.5. After E11.5 there was continued expression in brain, especially in the choroid plexus, peripheral nerves, dorsal root ganglia, cranial nerve ganglia, spinal and cranial nerves, and neural plexuses of the gut. In addition to nerves, developing limbs have Adamts5 expression in skeletal muscle (from E13.5), tendons (from E16.5), and inter-digital mesenchyme of the developing autopod (E13.5–15.5). In adult tissues, there is constitutive Adamts5 expression in arterial smooth muscle cells, mesothelium lining the peritoneal, pericardial and pleural cavities, smooth muscle cells in bronchi and pancreatic ducts, glomerular mesangial cells in the kidney, dorsal root ganglia, and in Schwann cells of the peripheral and autonomic nervous system. Expression of Adamts5 during neuromuscular development and in smooth muscle cells coincides with the broadly distributed proteoglycan versican, an ADAMTS5 substrate. These observations suggest the major contexts in which developmental and physiological roles could be sought for this protease.

Long-Range Enhancers Are Required to Maintain Expression of the Autoantigen Islet-Specific Glucose-6-Phosphatase Catalytic Subunit–Related Protein in Adult Mouse Islets In Vivo

Islet-specific glucose-6-phosphatase catalytic subunit-related protein (IGRP) is selectively expressed in islet beta-cells and is a major autoantigen in both mouse and human type 1 diabetes. This study describes the use of a combination of transgenic and transfection approaches to characterize the gene regions that confer the islet-specific expression of IGRP. Transgenic mice were generated containing the IGRP promoter sequence from -306, -911, or -3911 to +3 ligated to a LacZ reporter gene. Transgene expression was monitored by 5-bromo-4-chloro-3-indolyl-beta-D-galactopyranoside staining of pancreatic tissue. In all the transgenic mice, robust LacZ expression was detected in newborn mouse islets, but expression became mosaic as animals aged, suggesting that additional elements are required for the maintenance of IGRP gene expression. VISTA analyses identified two conserved regions in the distal IGRP promoter and one in the third intron. Transfection experiments demonstrated that all three regions confer enhanced luciferase reporter gene expression in beta TC-3 cells when ligated to a minimal IGRP promoter. A transgene containing all three conserved regions was generated by using a bacterial recombination strategy to insert a LacZ cassette into exon 5 of the IGRP gene. Transgenic mice containing a 15-kbp fragment of the IGRP gene were then generated. This transgene conferred LacZ expression in newborn mouse islets; however, expression was still suppressed as animals aged. The data suggest that long-range enhancers 5' or 3' of the IGRP gene are required for the maintenance of IGRP gene expression in adult mice.

Increased Rate of Hair Regrowth in Mice with Constitutive Overexpression of Del1

Developmental endothelial locus (Del)1 is a secreted extracellular matrix-associated protein that stimulates angiogenesis through integrin binding and is implicated in vasculogenesis. We hypothesized that increased expression of an angiogenic factor would lead to enhanced wound healing. Transgenic mice had Del1 cloned behind a keratin 14 promoter (K14-Del1) to drive constitutive expression in basal keratinocytes. Transgenic animals and wild-type litter mates underwent excisional wounding or depilation, and tissues were harvested at various time points. Wound healing and hair regrowth were assessed by photography, histology, and immunohistochemistry. For injection experiments, purified Del1 protein was injected in the flanks of wild-type mice with carrier on the contralateral flank as a control. Del1 expression during hair development was performed using transgenic mice with a LacZ cassette introduced downstream from the native promoter. K14-Del1 animals appeared normal and healed excisional wounds normally but demonstrated an increased rate of hair regrowth after wound healing. Using depilation experiments to specifically address hair follicle growth, we found increased hair regrowth was independent of wounding. This was confirmed by injection of purified Del1 protein. During normal hair anagenesis, Del1 is expressed in the root of the hair follicle. Constitutive expression of Del1 in skin does not affect skin vascularity or improve wound healing. Surprisingly, we found the primary effect of constitutive Del1 expression in the basal keratinocytes was increased hair growth following induction of anagenesis. During normal hair anagenesis, we see expression of Del1 in the root of the hair follicle suggesting it may function there to stimulate hair growth.

Construction of the Bac-to-Bac system of Bombyx mori nucleopolyhedroviru

To construct the Bac-to-Bac expression system of Bombyx mori nucleopolyhedrovirus (BmNPV), a transfer vector was constructed which contained an Escherichia coli (E. coli) mini-F replicon and a lacZ: attTN7: lacZ cassette within the upstream and downstream regions of the BmNPV polyhedrin gene. B. mori larvae were cotransfected with wild-type BmNPV genomic DNA and the transfer vector through subcutaneous injection to generate recombinant viruses by homologous recombination in vivo. The genomic DNA of budded viruses extracted from the hemolymph of the transfected larvae was used to transform E. coli DH10B. Recombinant bacmids were screened by kanamycin resistance, PCR and restriction enzyme (REN) digestion. One of the bacmid colonies, BmBacJS13, which had similar REN profiles to that of wild-type BmNPV, was selected for further research. To investigate the infectivity of BmBacJS13, the polyhedrin gene was introduced into the bacmid and the resultant recombinant (BmBacJS13-ph) was transfected to BmN cells. The budded viruses were collected from the supernatant of the transfected cells and used for infecting BmN cells. Growth curve analysis indicated that BmBacJS13-ph had a similar growth curve to that of wild-type BmNPV. Bio-assays indicated that BmBacJS13-ph was also infectious to B. mori larvae.

Tissue-specific Changes in the Hydroxylysine Content and Cross-links of Collagens and Alterations in Fibril Morphology in Lysyl Hydroxylase 1 Knock-out Mice

We have generated mice with targeted inactivation of the Plod1 gene for lysyl hydroxylase 1 (LH1). Its human mutations cause Ehlers-Danlos syndrome VIA (EDS VIA) characterized by muscular hypotonia, joint laxity, and kyphoscoliosis. The Plod1(-/-) mice are flaccid and have gait abnormalities. About 15% of them died because of aortic rupture and smooth muscle cells in non-ruptured Plod1(-/-) aortas showed degenerative changes. Collagen fibrils in the Plod1(-/-) aorta and skin had an abnormal morphology. The LH activity level in the Plod1(-/-) skin and aorta samples was 35-45% of that in the wild type. The hydroxylysine content was decreased in all the Plod1(-/-) tissues, ranging from 22% of that in the wild type in the skin to 75 and 86% in the femur and lung. The hydroxylysylpyridinoline crosslinks likewise showed decreases in all the Plod1(-/-) tissues, ranging from 28 and 33% of that in the wild type in the aorta and cornea to 47 and 59% in femur and tendon, while lysylpyridinolines were increased. The hydroxylysines found in the Plod1(-/-) collagens and their cross-links were evidently synthesized by the other two LH isoenzymes. Few data are available on abnormalities in EDS VIA tissues other than the skin. Plod1(-/-) mice offer an in vivo model for systematic analysis of the tissue-specific consequences of the lack of LH1 activity and may also provide a tool for analyzing the roles of connective tissue in muscle function and the complex interactions occurring in the proper assembly of the extracellular matrix.