• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.15 no.9
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• pp.1227-1231
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• 2002

A powerful tool for chicken transgenesis could be established by employing a germline chimera production through primordial germ cell transplantation. This study was conducted to examine whether foreign gene-transfected gonadal primordial germ cells (gPGCs) have a migration activity into the gonad after transfer to recipient embryos. In Experiment 1, gPGCs of Korean Ogol Chicken were retrieved from 5.5-day-old embryos and subsequently transferred to the dorsal aorta of 2.5-day-old White Leghorn embryos after being labeled with PKH26 fluorescent dye. To confirm migration activity after transplantation, recipient embryos were sacrificed and examined on 3 days after transfer. Sex determination was concomitantly undertaken to examine whether sex of recipient embryos could affect the migration activity of gPGCs. All of embryonic gonads examined showed positive signals with PKH26 fluorescence and W-chromosome specific band by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was detected in male embryos when gPGCs with ZW chromosome were transferred to recipient embryos. In Experiment 2, retrieved gPGCs were transfected with LacZ gene-containing cytomegalovirus promoter ($pCMV{\beta}$) by electroporation and subsequently transferred to recipient embryos. LacZ gene expression was identified in the gonads of 6 or 10-day-old recipient embryos and hatched-chicks. A total of 20 embryos and 12 hatched-chicks were examined and 11 of them (10 embryos and one hatched chicken; 11/32=34.4%) expressed $\beta$-galactosidase, a marker substance of LacZ gene. The results of this study demonstrated that foreign gene-transfected gPGCs can migrate and settle down into the gonad after being transferred into the blood vessel of the recipient embryos. This established technique will contribute to developing a peer biotechnology for transgenic chicken.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.16 no.8
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• pp.1102-1107
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• 2003

The ES cell can provide a useful system for studying differentiation and development in vitro and a powerful tool for producing transgenic animalds. To investigate the culture condition of chicken embryonic stem (CES) cells which can retain their multipotentiality or totipotency, three kinds of feeder layer cells, SNL cells, primary mice embryonic fibroblasts (PMEF) cells and primary chicken embryonic fibroblasts (PCEF) cells, were used as the feeder cells in media of DMEM supplemented with leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF), basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and stem cell factor (SCF) for co-culture with blastoderm cells from stage X embryos of chicken. The alkaline phosphatase (AKP) test, differentiation experiment in vitro and chimeric chicken production were carried out. The results showed that culture on feeder layer of PMEF yielded high quality CES cell colonies. The typical CES cells clone shape revealed as follows: nested aggregation (clone) with clear edge and round surface as well as close arrangement within the clone. Strong alkaline phosphatase (AKP) reactive cells were observed in the fourth passage cells. On the other hand, the fourth passage CES cells could differentiate into various cells in the absence of feeder layer cells and LIF in vitro. The third and fourth passage cells were injected into the subgerminal cavity of recipient embryos at stage X. Of 269 Hailan embryos injected with CES cells of Shouguang Chickens, 8.2% (22/269) survived to hatching, 5 feather chimeras had been produced. This suggests that an effective culture system established in this study can promote the growth of CES cells and maintain them in the state of undifferentiated and development, which lays a solid foundation for the application of CES cells and may provide an alternative tool for genetic modification of chickens.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.427-434
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• 1994

The primordial germ cells (PGCs) were transfected in vitro and expressed the exogenous RSVLTR/${\beta}G2$ plasmid, suggesting thaI PGC is a possible vector for direct gene transfer into the germ line. Transfection efficiency of cell suspensions containing PGCs was 1.5% by liposome mediated DNA transfection. By microinjection of the transfected PGCs into the host germinal crescent, PGCs migrated via blood vessel to the future gonad and these transfected PGCs resulted in the RSVLTR/${\beta}G2$ expression in the gonad. The results from the seeding of PGCs on the chorioallantoic membrane were insufficient to test the hypothesis that PGCs can penetrate or invade the chorioallantoic membrane for transport via the circulatory system.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.159-166
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• 2008

We report here the generation of transgenic chickens that produce human Thrombopoietin (hTPO) using replication-defective Moloney murine leukemia virus (MoMLV)-based vectors packaged with vesicular stomatitis virus G glycoprotein (VSV-G). For the retrovirus vectors, we used hCMV (human Cytomegalovirus) internal promoter to drive the hTPO gene. After confirming the expression of the hTPO gene in various target cells, the concentrated solution of recombinant retrovirus was injected beneath the blastoderm of non-incubated chicken embryos (stage X). The biological activity of the recombinant hTPO in target cell was significantly higher than its commercially available counterpart. Out of 132 injected eggs, 11 chicks hatched after 21 days of incubation and 4 hatched chicks were found to express vector-encoded hTPO gene. However, 3 out of the 4 transgenics died within one month of hatching. The major significance of this study is that it is one of the very few successful reports on the production of transgenic chickens as bioreactors aiming mass production of commercially valuable and biological active human cytokine proteins.

• Proceedings of the Korea Society of Poultry Science Conference
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• 2000.11a
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• pp.88-90
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• 2000

Although primordial germ cells(PGCs) have been used in the production of germline chimera, efficiency has not been satisfactory. The Present study was conducted to improve efficiency of germline chimera production using the cultured gonadal PGCs(gPGCs). Germline chimeric chickens were produced by transfer of cultured gonadal primordial germ cells from Korean Ogol Chicken (KOC) to White Leghorn (5.5-day-old) and cultured in vitro for 10 days. Approximately 200 gPGCs (2-day-old) recipient embryos from which blood had been withdrawn via the dorsal aorta prior to the injection. Recipient embryos were incubated until hatching. Germline chimerism of the chickens reaching maturity was examined by mating them with Korean Ogol Chicken. Donor-derived offspring were identified as germline chimeric chickens based on their feather color. The frequency of germline transmission of donor PGCs ranged 1.9∼60.7%. There was no difference between both sexes. Therefore, it can be concluded that efficiency of germline chimerism can be improved via using cultured gPGCs.

• 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.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 1997

Recently the production of transgenic animals to express foreign proteins in mammary glands has been a routine procedure. However, it still takes a considerable time and effort, and is faced with various technical challenges until the protein of interest is successfully made. Thus, a development of an a vitro model for mamm a ary-specific gene expression for recombinant genes was carried out in this study. To this end, bovine $\alpha$$_S1$ casein cDNA was inserted at the multiple cloning site of pMSG vector under the control of MMTV promoter. MCF$_7$ cells were tran sfected with pMSG $\alpha$$_S1$ CN by CaP0$_4$ precipitation. Transfectants were selected in HAT medium and induced with dexamethasone. The cells were analyzed with chicken anti-casein and FITC-labeled rabbit anti-chicken antibodies. The results showed that dexamethasone induced 30-40 fold increase in the MMTV- $\alpha$$_S1$ casein e expression. Therefore MCF$_7$ cells, which have multiple steroid receptors, along with pMSG vector can be used as an in vitro model for the study of mammary-specific gene expression.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.241-244
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• 2012

This study was performed to analyze the generational transmission and the expression of the foreign gene in the GFP transgenic chickens. The transmission rate and the expression of the GFP gene was investigated from the GFP transgenic rooster (G2) as the first founder to the ninth (G8). Analysis of GFP expression in hatched chickens was used the UV lamp. When GFP was expressed in the wings, bill and legs of a chick, the bird only was selected as a transgenic chick. The average transmission rate of the overall transgenic was 38~58%. These results showed that the transmission of the GFP gene in the transgenic chickens in accordance with the laws of Mendel's continues to the next generation without gene silencing.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.163-169
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• 2001

Despite the high potency of the retrovirus vector system in gene transfer, one of the main drawbacks of has been difficulty in preparing highly concentrated virus stock. Numerous efforts to boost the virus titer have ended in unsatisfactory results mainly due to fragile property of retrovirus envelope protein. In this study, to overcome this problem, we constructed our own retrovirus vector system producing vector viruses encapsulated with VSV-G (vesicular stomatitis virus G glycoprotein). Concentration process of the virus stock by ultracentrifuge did not sacrifice the virus infectivity, resulting in more than 108 to 109 CFU (colony forming unit) per ml on most of the target cell lines tested. Application of this high-titer retrovirus vector system was tested on chicken embryos. Injection of virus stock beneath the blastoderms of pre-incubated fertilized eggs resulted in chick embryos expressing E. coli LacZ gene with 100% efficiency. Therefore, our results suggest that it is possible to transfer the foreign gene into chicken embryo using our high-titer retrovirus vector.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.171-180
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• 2001

Compared to other gene transfer system, the advantages of retrovirus-mediated gene transfer are technical ease, efficient expression and genetic stability. Despite the high potency of the retrovirus vector system in gene transfer, one of the drawbacks is a difficulty in concentration of virus stock. To overcome this problem, we tested a new retrovirus vector system producing the progeny retrovirus particles encapsidated with VSV-G (vesicular stomatitis virus G glycoprotein). The infectivity of this virus was not sacrificed by ultracentrifugal concentration and the host cell range extended from all mammalian to fish embryos. Virus titer after 1,000 x concentration was more than 10$^{8}$ CFU/ $m\ell$ on most of the target cell lines. We applied this pantropic viruses in transgenic chicken production by injecting the concentrated (100$\times$) stock into subgerminal cavity of stage X chicken embryos. The survival rate of chicken embryos after injection was about 20% and gene integration rate in surviving embryos was scored almost 100%. Analyses of RT-PCR and fluorescence microscopy, however, showed no evidence of the transgene expression.