Cre-mediated targeted gene activation in the middle silk glands of transgenic silkworms (Bombyx mori)

Transgenic Res. 2013 Jun;22(3):607-19. doi: 10.1007/s11248-012-9677-0. Epub 2012 Dec 23.

Abstract

Cre-mediated recombination is widely used to manipulate defined genes spatiotemporally in vivo. The present study evaluated the Cre/loxP system in Bombyx mori by establishing two transgenic lines. One line contained a Cre recombinase gene controlled by a sericin-1 gene (Ser1) promoter. The other line contained a loxP-Stop-loxP-DsRed cassette driven by the same Ser1 promoter. The precise deletion of the Stop fragment was found to be triggered by Cre-mediated site-specific excision, and led to the expression of DsRed fluorescence protein in the middle silk glands of all double-transgenic hybrids. This result was also confirmed by phenotypical analysis. Hence, the current study demonstrated the feasibility of Cre-mediated site-specific recombination in B. mori, and opened a new window for further refining genetic tools in silkworms.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Animals, Genetically Modified*
  • Base Sequence
  • Blotting, Southern
  • Bombyx / genetics*
  • Exocrine Glands / physiology*
  • Gene Expression
  • Genetic Vectors
  • Germ Cells
  • Integrases / genetics
  • Integrases / metabolism*
  • Luminescent Proteins / genetics
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Promoter Regions, Genetic
  • Transcriptional Activation

Substances

  • Luminescent Proteins
  • fluorescent protein 583
  • Cre recombinase
  • Integrases