• Laboraroty Animal Research
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.147-159
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• 2018

Genetically engineered mouse models are commonly preferred for studying the human disease due to genetic and pathophysiological similarities between mice and humans. In particular, Cre-loxP system is widely used as an integral experimental tool for generating the conditional. This system has enabled researchers to investigate genes of interest in a tissue/cell (spatial control) and/or time (temporal control) specific manner. A various tissue-specific Cre-driver mouse lines have been generated to date, and new Cre lines are still being developed. This review provides a brief overview of Cre-loxP system and a few commonly used promoters for expression of tissue-specific Cre recombinase. Also, we finally introduce some available links to the Web sites that provides detailed information about Cre mouse lines including their characterization.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.826-830
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• 2018

A Cre/loxP-${\delta}$-integration system was developed to allow sequential and simultaneous integration of a multiple gene expression cassette in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. To allow repeated integrations, the reusable Candida glabrata MARKER (CgMARKER) carrying loxP sequences was used, and the integrated CgMARKER was efficiently removed by inducing Cre recombinase. The XYLP and XYLB genes encoding endoxylanase and ${\beta}$-xylosidase, respectively, were used as model genes for xylan metabolism in this system, and the copy number of these genes was increased to 15.8 and 16.9 copies/cell, respectively, by repeated integration. This integration system is a promising approach for the easy construction of yeast strains with enhanced metabolic pathways through multicopy gene expression.

• BMB Reports
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.322-328
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• 2001

Excision and amplification of pre-determined, large genomic segments (taken directly from the genome of a natural host, which provides an alternative to conventional cloning in foreign vectors and hosts) was explored in human cells. In this approach, we devised a procedure for excising a large segment of human genomic DNA, the iNOS gene, by using the Cre/loxP system of bacteriophage P1 and amplifying the excised circles with the EBNA-1/oriP system of the Epstein-Barr virus. Two loxP sequences, each of which serves as a recognition site for recombinase Cre, were integrated unidirectionally into the 5'-UTR and 3'-UTR regions of the iNOS gene, together with an oriP sequence for conditional replication. The traps-acting genes cre and EBNA-1, which were under the control of a tetracycline responsive $P_{hcmv^*-1}$ promoter, were also inserted into the 5'-UTR and 3'-UTR regions of the iNOS gene, respectively, by homologous recombination. The strain carrying the inserted elements was stably maintained until the excision and amplification functions were triggered by the induction of cre and EBNA-1. Upon induction by doxycycline, Cre excised the iNOS gene that was flanked by two ZoxP sites and circularized it. The circularized iNOS gene was then amplified by the EBNA-1/oriP-system. With this procedure, approximately a 45.8-kb iNOS genomic fragment of human chromosome 17 was excised and successfully amplified in human cells. Our procedure can be used effectively for the sequencing of unclonable genes, the functional analysis of unknown genes, and gene therapy.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.30 no.6
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• pp.886-892
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• 2017

Objective: Transgenic technology is widely used for industrial applications and basic research. Systems that allow for genetic modification play a crucial role in biotechnology for a number of purposes, including the functional analysis of specific genes and the production of exogenous proteins. In this study, we examined and verified the cumate-inducible transgene expression system in chicken DF1 and quail QM7 cells, as well as loxP element-mediated transgene recombination using Cre recombinase in DF1 cells. Methods: After stable transfer of the transgene with piggyBac transposon and transposase, transgene expression was induced by an appropriate concentration of cumate. Additionally, we showed that the transgene can be replaced with additional transgenes by co-transfection with the Cre recombinase expression vector. Results: In the cumate-GFP DF1 and QM7 cells, green fluorescent protein (GFP) expression was repressed in the off state in the absence of cumate, and the GFP transgene expression was successfully induced in the presence of cumate. In the cumate-MyoD DF1 cells, MyoD transgene expression was induced by cumate, and the genes controlled by MyoD were upregulated according to the number of days in culture. Additionally, for the translocation experiments, a stable enhanced green fluorescent protein (eGFP)-expressing DF1 cell line transfected with the loxP66-eGFP-loxP71 vector was established, and DsRed-positive and eGFP-negative cells were observed after 14 days of co-transfection with the DsRed transgene and Cre recombinase indicating that the eGFP transgene was excised, and the DsRed transgene was replaced by Cre recombination. Conclusion: Transgene induction or replacement cassette systems in avian cells can be applied in functional genomics studies of specific genes and adapted further for efficient generation of transgenic poultry to modulate target gene expression.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.28 no.11
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• pp.1277-1284
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• 2018

In this study, a repeated yeast integrative plasmid (R-YIp) harboring Cre/loxP system was constructed to integrate various gene expression cassettes into the yeast chromosome. The R-YIp system contains a reusable selective marker (CgTRP1), loxP sequence, and target sequence for integration. Therefore, many gene expression cassettes can be integrated into the same position of the same yeast chromosome. In the present study, several model enzymes involving xylan/xylose metabolism were examined, including endoxylanase (XYLP), ${\beta}$-xylosidase (XYLB), xylose reductase (GRE3) and xylitol dehydrogenase (XYL2). Efficient expression of these genes was obtained using two promoters (GAL10p and ADH1p) and various plasmids (pGMF-GENE and pAMF-GENE plasmids) were constructed. The XYLP, XYLB, GRE3, and XYL2 genes were efficiently expressed under the control of the GAL10 promoter. Subsequently, R-YIps containing the GAL10p-GENE-GAL7t cassette were constructed, resulting in pRS-XylP, pRS-XylB, pRS-Gre3, and pRS-Xyl2 plasmids. These plasmids were sequentially integrated into chromosome VII of a Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain by repeated gene integration and selective marker rescue. These genes were integrated by the R-YIp system and were stably expressed in the yeast transformants to produce active recombinant enzymes. Therefore, we expect that the R-YIp system will be able to overcome current limitations of the host cells and allow selective marker selection for the integration of various genes into the yeast chromosome.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.114-119
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• 2020

Of the various types of mice used for genome editing, conditional knock-out (cKO) mice serve as an important model for studying the function of genes. cKO mice can be produced using loxP knock-in (KI) mice in which loxP sequences (34 bp) are inserted on both sides of a specific region in the target gene. These mice can be used as KO mice that do not express a gene at a desired time or under a desired condition by cross-breeding with various Cre Tg mice. Genome editing has been recently made easy by the use of third-generation gene scissors, the CRISPR-Cas9 system. However, very few laboratories can produce mice for genome editing. Here we present a more efficient method for producing loxP KI mice. This method involves the use of an HDR vector as the target vector and ssODN as the donor DNA in order to induce homologous recombination for producing loxP KI mice. On injecting 20 ng/µL of ssODN, it was observed that the target exon was deleted or loxP was inserted on only one side. However, on injecting 10 ng/µL of the target HDR vector, the insertion of loxP was observed on both sides of the target region. In the first PCR, seven mice were identified to be loxP KI mice. The accuracy of their gene sequences was confirmed through Sanger sequencing. It is expected that the loxP KI mice produced in this study will serve as an important tool for identifying the function of the target gene.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.47 no.4
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• pp.667-672
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• 2019

We compared two integration systems for stable expression of heterologous genes in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. A Candida glabrata-derived gene was used as the selective marker for the Cre/loxP system, and XYLP, XYLB, GRE3, and XYL2 genes were used as model heterologous genes and ligated into the universal pRS-CMT vector. The resulting pRS-XylP, pRS-XylB, pRS-Gre3, and pRS-Xyl2 plasmids were sequentially integrated into yeast chromosome VII by four integration processes (marker rescue and gene integration). The four introduced genes were successfully expressed. Further, the pRS-PBG2 plasmid harboring expression cassettes for the four genes was constructed for one-step integration. The four genes that were introduced were stably maintained as a gene cluster and were simultaneously expressed. The one-step integration was more effective for the simultaneous integration and expression of the four genes related to xylan/xylose metabolism. This method will enable the generation of a useful biosystem through appropriate use of gene integration methods.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.283-291
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• 1996

Transgenic animal을 응용할 수 있는 분야에서는 이식유전자의 기능을 정확하게 규명하고 이를 바탕으로 실질적인 유전적인 개량을 이루기 위해서 이식유전자의 발현을 조절할 수 있는 정교한 system이 필요하다. 유전자의 미세주입법에 의해 transgenic animal을 생산할 수 있는데 이용되고 있는 tissue-specific promoter에 의한 이식유전자의 발현조절은 필요로 하는 시기나 양 등을 인위적으로 조절하고자 하는데 한계점을 갖고 있다. 이러한 이식유전자 발현의 문제점을 극복하기 위해 효모의 recombinase나 미생물의 repressor 단백질과 이들의 binding site인 operator sequence를 이용하여 인위적으로 이식유전자의 발현을 조절할 수 있는 system이 개발되고 있다. Cre/loxP system은 site-specific recombination에 의해 DNA sequence를 제거함으로서 이식유전자의 발현을 조절할 수 있다. 이식유전자 발현의 장소와 양을 조절하기 위해서는 미생물이 이용하고 있는 repressor와 이들의 operator sequence를 적용하여 ligand binary system이 개발되었다. Lac repressor system에서는 isopropyl-$\beta$-D-thiogalactoside (IPTG)가 이식유전자 발현을 조절할 수 있는 positive regulator로서 작용하고, tetracycline-VP16 system에서는 tetracycline이나 유사물질들이 negative regulator로서 이용할 수 있다. 이러한 binary system은 transgenic animal에서 이식유전자 발현의 장소와 시기 또한 양을 효과적으로 조절하는데 적용할 수 있는 것으로 나타났다. 따라서 기존의 binary system과 함께 새로운 regulatory system의 장점을 이용하여 보다 완벽한 이식유전자의 인위적인 조절 system을 이룩함으로서 transgenic animal technology의 실용화를 앞당길 것으로 기대된다.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.700-709
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• 2016

The mitogen-activated protein kinase HOG1 (high-osmolarity glycerol response pathway) plays a crucial role in the response of yeast to hyperosmotic shock. Trichosporonoides oedocephalis produces large amounts of polyols (e.g., erythritol and glycerol) in a culture medium. However, the effects of HOG1 gene knockout and environmental stress on the production of these polyols have not yet been studied. In this study, a To-HOG1 null mutation was constructed in T. oedocephalis using the loxP-Kan-loxP/Cre system as replacement of the targeted genes, and the resultant mutants showed much smaller colonies than the wild-type controls. Interestingly, compared with the wild-type strains, the results of shake-flask culture showed that To-HOG1 null mutation increased erythritol production by 1.44-fold while decreasing glycerol production by 71.23%. In addition, this study investigated the effects of citric acid stress on the T. oedocephalis HOG1 null mutants and the wild-type strain. When the supplementation of citric acid in the fermentation medium was controlled at 0.3% (w/v), the concentration of erythritol produced from the wild-type and To-HOG1 knockout mutant strains improved by 18.21% and 21.65%, respectively.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.17 no.4 s.84
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• pp.587-592
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• 2007

Manipulation of the mouse genome by activating or inactivating the gene has contributed to the understanding of the function of the gene in the subset of cells during embryonic development or postnatal period of life. Most of all, gene targeting, which largely depends on the availability of mouse embryonic stem (ES) cells, is the milestone of development of animal models for human disease. Recombinase-mediated genome modification (Cre-LoxP and Flp-Frt etc) and the ligand-dependent regulation system, more accurate and elaborate manipulation tools, have been successfully developed and applied to dissect the mechanisms governing complex biological processes and to understand the role of protein in temporal-and spatial aspects of development. As technologies concerning refined manipulation of mouse genome are developed, they are expected to open new opportunities to better understand the diverse in vivo functions of genes.