Generation of Ci-Brachyury-GFP stable transgenic lines in the ascidian Ciona savignyi.

TitleGeneration of Ci-Brachyury-GFP stable transgenic lines in the ascidian Ciona savignyi.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2003
AuthorsDeschet K, Nakatani Y, Smith WC
JournalGenesis
Volume35
Issue4
Pagination248-59
Date Published2003 Apr
ISSN1526-954X
KeywordsAnimals, Animals, Genetically Modified, Blotting, Southern, Fetal Proteins, Genes, Reporter, Mosaicism, Mutation, Notochord, Promoter Regions, Genetic, T-Box Domain Proteins, Transgenes, Urochordata
Abstract

We report generation of stable transgenic lines of the ascidian Ciona savignyi carrying a Ciona intestinalis-Brachyury-promoter/Green Fluorescent Protein-reporter (Ci-Bra-GFP) construct. The transgenic lines were made using a technique in which the endonuclease I-SceI was coinjected into fertilized eggs with a transgene construct containing flanking recognition sites for I-SceI. Two founder animals, out of 12 F(0) adults tested, were found to transmit the transgene to their offspring (F(1)s) at frequencies of 42% and 23%. The transgene was further inherited by the F(2) in a Mendelian fashion and displayed nonmosaic expression, indicating integration into the genome. The Mendelian inheritance and the absence of mosaicism persisted through the F(3) and F(4) generations. Southern blot analyses showed that the transgene was organized in tandem arrays of no more than 10 copies. Using these Ci-Bra-GFP transgenics, we describe cellular movements and shape changes involved in notochord morphogenesis in both wildtype and mutant embryos.

DOI10.1002/gene.10195
Alternate JournalGenesis
PubMed ID12717736
Grant ListHD 38701 / HD / NICHD NIH HHS / United States