Transgenic mouse lines with ectopic expression of a-1,3-galactosyltransferase: production and characteristics

"To whom correspondence should be addressed The cDNA of murine a-l^-galactosyltransferase was placed under the control of the /S-actin promoter and cytomegalo-virus enhancer, then introduced into male pronuclei of fertilized mouse eggs. The three transgenic mouse lines obtained were analysed for the expression of the transfer-ase by staining with Griffonia simplicifolia agglutinin I-B4 (GSI-B4), which is a-galactosyl specific. Compared with wild-type mice, all lines of transgenic mice expressed GSI-B4 binding sites more Intensely in the renal tubular brush border and lung alveolar epithelium, and newly expressed them in the pbotoreceptor outer segments, goblet cells of the small intestine and around spermatogonia. GSI-B4 binding sites were also detected in the liver of some transgenic mice. Even though the introduced enzyme gene was expressed i