Targetted correction of a mutant HPRT gene in mouse embryonic stem cells

Two recent developments suggest a route to predetermined alterations in mammalian germlines. These are, first, the characterization of mouse embryonic stem (ES) cells that can still enter the germline after genetic manipulation in culture and second, the demonstration that homologous recombination between a native target chromosomal gene and exogenous DAN can be used in culture to modify specifically the target locus. We here use gene targetting functionally to correct the mutant hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyl transferase (HPRT) gene in the ES cell line which has previously been isolated and used to produce an HPRT-deficient mouse. This modification of a chosen gene in pluripotent ES cells demonstrates the feasibility of this route to manipulating mammalian genomes in predetermined ways.     

Expression of the mouse metallothionein mutant ββ-cDNA in the lettuces (Lactuca sativa L.)

Mouse metallothionein (MT) domain mutant ββ-cDNA gene has been inserted into the plant expression vector pGPTVd35S which has herbicide (PPT)-resistance gene bar as a selective marker. The chimeric gene was introduced into the lettuce (Lactuca sativa L. cv Salinas 88) by Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. PCR and Southern blot analysis of some putative transformants indicated that the introduced ββ-cDNA was integrated into lettuce genome and inheritted by sexual reproduction. The expression of ββ gene in lettuce plants was demonstrated by Northern and Western blot analysis. Meanwhile, the zinc content of the transformed lettuce plants is up to 400 μg/g dry weight, remarkably higher than the control plants.     

Ciliary neurotrophic factor prevents degeneration of motor neurons in mouse mutant progressive motor neuronopathy.

Ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) supports the survival of embryonic motor neurons in vitro and in vivo, and prevents lesion-mediated degeneration of rat motor neurons during early post-natal stages. Here we report that CNTF greatly reduces all the functional and morphological changes in pmn/pmn mice, an autosomal recessive mutant leading to progressive caudo-cranial motor neuron degeneration. The first manifestations of progressive motor neuronopathy in homozygous pmn/pmn mice become apparent in the hind limbs at the end of the third post-natal week, and all the mice die up to 6 or 7 weeks after birth from respiratory paralysis. Treatment with CNTF prolongs survival and greatly improves motor function of these mice. Moreover, morphological manifestations, such as loss of motor axons in the phrenic nerve and degeneration of facial motor neurons, were greatly reduced by CNTF, although the treatment did not start until the first symptoms of the disease had already become apparent and substantial degenerative changes were already present. The protective and restorative effects of CNTF in this mouse mutant give new perspectives for the treatment of human degenerative motor neuron diseases with CNTF.     

Three mutant insulins in man

We have previously identified a structurally abnormal insulin in the serum and pancreas of a middle-aged man with diabetes mellitus which arose from a leucine for phenylalanine substitution at position 24 or 25 of the insulin B chain; further analysis of the patient's leukocyte DNA showed that one of the patient's insulin alleles had undergone mutation resulting in loss of an MboII restriction site normally present in the human insulin gene. Two additional and unrelated patients with the same clinical syndrome have now been identified (ref. 4 and unpublished results). All of these patients showed hyperglycaemia typical of diabetes and with marked hyperinsulinaemia typical of insulin resistance, but all three show normal tolerance to exogenously administered insulin. As the opportunity of examining pancreatic tissue from patients suspected of secreting insulin variants is rare, we have developed a method combining HPLC and radioimmunoassay to identify insulin variants isolated from human sera. By this method we have shown that all three patients noted above secrete structurally variant and chemically distinct insulins. In correction of our original assignment, one is identified as [LeuB25]insulin.