Department of Orthodontics, Jilin University School and Hospital of Stomatology, Changchun, 130021, Jilin, China.
Department of Biologic and Materials Sciences and Division of Prosthodontics, University of Michigan School of Dentistry, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA.
Transgenic Res. 2018 Dec;27(6):551-558. doi: 10.1007/s11248-018-0091-0. Epub 2018 Aug 22.
Reporter genes play important roles in transgenic research. LacZ is a widely used reporter gene that encodes Escherichia coli β-galactosidase, an enzyme that is well known for its ability to hydrolyze X-gal into a blue product. It is unknown whether transgenic LacZ has any adverse effects. R26R reporter mice, containing a LacZ reporter gene, were generated to monitor the in vivo recombination activity of various transgenic Cre recombinase via X-gal staining. P0-Cre is expressed in neural crest-derived cells, which give rise to the majority of the craniofacial bones. Herein, we report that 12% of the R26R reporter mice harboring P0-Cre had unexpected mid-facial developmental defects manifested by the asymmetrical growth of some facial bones, thus resulting in tilted mid-facial structure, shorter skull length, and malocclusion. Histological examination showed a disorganization of the frontomaxillary suture, which may at least partly explain the morphological defect in affected transgenic mice. Our data calls for the consideration of the potential in vivo adverse effects caused by transgenic β-galactosidase.
报告基因在转基因研究中起着重要作用。LacZ 是一种广泛使用的报告基因，它编码大肠杆菌β-半乳糖苷酶，该酶以其能够将 X-gal 水解成蓝色产物的能力而闻名。目前尚不清楚转基因 LacZ 是否有任何不良影响。R26R 报告小鼠含有 LacZ 报告基因，通过 X-gal 染色来监测各种转基因 Cre 重组酶的体内重组活性。P0-Cre 在神经嵴衍生细胞中表达，这些细胞产生大多数颅面骨。在此，我们报告说，携带 P0-Cre 的 12%的 R26R 报告小鼠出现了意想不到的中面部发育缺陷，表现为一些面部骨骼的不对称生长，从而导致中面部结构倾斜、颅骨长度缩短和咬合不正。组织学检查显示额上颌缝的紊乱，这至少可以部分解释受影响的转基因小鼠的形态缺陷。我们的数据呼吁考虑转基因β-半乳糖苷酶引起的潜在体内不良反应。
