We describe here a new variant of transposon Tn10 especially adapted for transposon analysis of cloned yeast genes; it can equally well be used for analysis of prokaryotic genes. We have applied this element to analysis of the LEU2, RAD50, and CDC48 genes of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. This transposon, nicknamed mini-Tn10-LUK, contains a lacZ gene without efficient transcription or translation st...

We generated transgenic mice, using 9.5 kilobase pairs of the 5' upstream sequence from the mouse metabotropic glutamate receptor subtype 6 (mGluR6) gene fused to the beta-galactosidase (lacZ) reporter gene, and investigated the promoter function of the cell-specific and developmentally regulated expression of mGluR6. Most of the independent transgenic lines commonly showed the lacZ expression ...

Enamel development requires the strictly regulated spatiotemporal expression of genes encoding enamel matrix proteins. The mechanisms orchestrating the initiation and termination of gene transcription at each specific stage of amelogenesis are unknown. In this study, we identify cis- regulatory regions necessary for normal enamelin (Enam) expression. Sequence analysis of the Enam promoter 5'-no...

To investigate in vivo roles of a murine hypothalamic homeobox gene, Bsx, we generated and analyzed two mutant alleles, Bsx(DeltaHD) and Bsx(lacZ). Bsx(DeltaHD) lacks the homeodomain, and Bsx(lacZ) is an insertion of a lacZ reporter gene. Bsx-lacZ expression was detected in the hypothalamus and pineal gland and reiterates Bsx expression. Bsx homozygous mutant mice were born at the expected Mend...

LacZ is widely used as a reporter in studies of gene expression patterns. β-galactosidase, the product of LacZ gene, is usually detected by X-gal/FeCN staining. In X-gal/FeCN staining, β-galactosidase catalyzes X-gal to produce blue precipitates, which indicate the expression patterns of the gene of interest. A newer LacZ detection method using S-gal/TNBT is more sensitive but plagued by high b...

In Escherichia coli, the topology of inner membrane proteins can be studied conveniently with the alkaline phosphatase/beta-galactosidase (PhoA/LacZ) gene fusion system. PhoA is enzymatically active only when fused to external domains, LacZ when fused to cytoplasmic domains. In eukaryotic cells, only time consuming methods exist to study the topology of membrane proteins. We have extended in th...

The vertebrate caudal proteins, being upstream regulators of the Hox genes, play a role in establishment of the body plan. We describe analysis of two orthologous caudal genes (chick cdx-A and mouse cdx-1) by use of lacZ reporters expressed in transgenic mouse embryos. The expression patterns show many similarities to the expression of endogenous mouse cdx-1. At 8.7 days, cdx/lacZ activity with...

Spheroidin (SPH) is the most highly expressed gene of the entomopoxvirus isolated from Amsacta moorei (AmEPV). The level of expression of poxvirus genes is believed to be governed in large part by the promoter. Poxvirus promoters generally consist of approximately 40 bp which frequently terminate at the 3' end with a translation initiating TAAATG sequence. We have examined the requirements for ...

OBJECTIVE Experimental studies have provided evidence that neovascularization is an important feature of plaque growth, and angiogenic gene therapy may, therefore, increase plaque growth. This study examined the effect of local (peri)adventitial vascular endothelial growth factor165 (VEGF) gene transfer on vascular thickening after coronary balloon injury. METHODS Two coronary arteries of 15 ...

Industrialisation, directly or indirectly, exposes humans to various xenobiotics. The increased magnitude of chemical pesticides and toxic heavy metals in the environment, as well their intrusion into food chain, seriously threatens human health. Therefore, surveillance xenobiotics is crucial for social safety security. Online investigation by traditional methods not sufficient detection identi...