Enhancer detection in the ascidian Ciona intestinalis with transposase-expressing lines of Minos

✍ Scribed by Yasunori Sasakura; Aru Konno; Katsutoshi Mizuno; Nori Satoh; Kazuo Inaba

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 2007
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 565 KB
• Volume: 237
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 1058-8388
• DOI: 10.1002/dvdy.21333

✦ Synopsis

Abstract

Germline transgenesis with a Tc1/mariner superfamily Minos transposon was achieved in the ascidian Ciona intestinalis. Transgenic lines that express transposases in germ cells are very useful for remobilizing transposon copies. In the present study, we created transposase‐expressing lines of Minos in Ciona. A Ciona gene encoding protamine (Ci‐prm) is expressed in the testes and sperm. Transgenic lines expressing Minos transposase in the testes and sperm were created with a cis‐element of Ci‐prm, and used for enhancer detection. Double‐transgenic animals between transposase lines and a transgenic line with an enhancer detection vector passed on several independent enhancer detection events to subsequent progeny. This technique allowed us to isolate transgenic lines that express GFP in restricted tissues. This system provides an easy and efficient method for large‐scale enhancer detection in Ciona intestinalis. Developmental Dynamics 237:39–50, 2008. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.