ME1-Tg mice on chow diet exhibit increased ME1 protein and mRNA abundance in small intestine.

<p>A) Schematic representation of the mouse villin1-ME1 transgene construct in which a complete open reading frame for rat ME1 was placed downstream of the murine villin1 gene promoter-enhancer (12.4 kb fragment). The SV40 polyA signal-containing region was located downstream of the <i>Me1</i> cDNA sequence. Red arrows indicate the location of genotyping primers, while black arrows indicate the location of primers used to detect transgene expression by RT-PCR. B) ME1-Tg mRNA expression in the jejunum and colon of WT and ME1-Tg mice detected by RT-PCR (n = 3 mice/group; Exp.1). C) Representative Western blots of ME1 protein in the jejunum, ileum and colon of WT and ME1-Tg mice (n = 2−3/group; Exp. 1). The ME1 antibody detected endogenous murine and Tg-derived rat ME1 proteins. D) Densitometric analysis of relative ME1 protein levels in panel C. E) Representative images of immunohistochemical staining of ME1 in the Ileum and colon of WT and ME1-Tg Tg mice. Scale bars = 100 µM. Arrows indicate villous epithelial and luminal epithelial staining of ME1 in the ileum and colon, respectively. F) Weight gain calculated as percentage increase of final body weight from initial body weight of WT and ME1-Tg male mice (n = 8−10 mice/group) from Exp. 1. Bar graphs represent mean ± SEM; *Significant difference at <i>P</i><0.05 between genotypes. **Significant difference at <i>P</i><0.01 between genotypes. <i>P</i> values are indicated for those tending to have significant differences between groups (0.05<<i>P</i><0.10).