High level expression of human alpha-fetoprotein in transgenic mice

Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 1993 Mar 15;191(2):715-20. doi: 10.1006/bbrc.1993.1276.

Abstract

Transgenic mice were produced by the microinjection of the cDNA of human alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) under control of the enhancer/promoter of the human beta-actin gene. Among the 4 mouse lines where the transgene were stable transmitted to the progeny, 3 produced human AFP. The expression was not developmental stage-specific nor tissue-specific as predicted from the properties of enhancer/promoter. The serum human AFP levels of adult mice were 30-600-fold higher than those of mouse AFP. These mice could be useful for the studies of possible biological functions of AFP during development as well as in malignancies.

MeSH terms

  • Actins / genetics
  • Animals
  • DNA
  • Enhancer Elements, Genetic
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Promoter Regions, Genetic
  • RNA, Messenger / metabolism
  • Tissue Distribution
  • alpha-Fetoproteins / genetics*

Substances

  • Actins
  • RNA, Messenger
  • alpha-Fetoproteins
  • DNA