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P M Kooiman

Publications and source records attributed to P M Kooiman.

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High-level expression of bovine alpha s1-casein in milk of transgenic mice.

The bovine alpha s1-casein gene, isolated from a cosmid library, was introduced into the murine germline. Transgene expression occurred in all transgenic mice, and was confined to the lactating mammary gland. Half of the mouse lines (five out of ten) expressed at relatively high expression levels (> 1 mg ml-1). The highest levels of expression were obtained with a transgene containing 14.2 kb of 5' flanking sequence, in two cases expression levels comparable to (10 mg ml-1) or well above (20 mg ml-1) alpha s1-casein levels in bovine milk were obtained. Transcription initiation occurred at the same site in the bovine alpha s1-casein gene in transgenic mouse as in the cow. A marked induction of expression occurred at parturition rather than at mid-pregnancy, and thus resembled the bovine rather than the murine developmental expression pattern. Bovine alpha s1-casein specific immunoblotting and RIA were developed for characterization and quantification of the recombinant protein. Using these assays, the properties of the recombinant protein could not be distinguished from those of the natural bovine protein. In spite of the high-level tissue-specific and correctly regulated developmental expression of the transgene, expression levels were integration-site dependent. This may indicate that not all cis-acting regulatory elements involved in bovine alpha s1-casein expression were included in the transgene.

Animals↗

Glycosylated and unglycosylated human lactoferrins both bind iron and show identical affinities towards human lysozyme and bacterial lipopolysaccharide, but differ in their susceptibilities towards tryptic proteolysis.

We studied the role of N-glycosylation of human lactoferrin (hLF) with respect to properties that are relevant to its antibacterial and anti-inflammatory activities. A human kidney-derived 293(S) cell line that constitutively expresses recombinant hLF (rhLF) was produced. The reactivity towards various antibodies of rhLF that had been expressed in the absence or presence of tunicamycin (which blocks N-linked glycosylation) did not differ from that of natural (human milk-derived) hLF. Cation-exchange chromatography and N-terminal protein sequencing showed identical cationic properties and an intact N-terminal sequence for rhLF and natural hLF. SDS/PAGE of rhLF expressed in the presence of tunicamycin revealed a protein with the same M(r) as that of enzymically deglycosylated natural hLF. Both glycosylated and unglycosylated rhLF appeared to be completely saturated with iron. The affinity of natural hLF, glycosylated and non-glycosylated rhLF for both human lysozyme (Kd 4.5 x 10(-8) M) and bacterial lipopolysaccharide did not differ. SDS/PAGE of hLF species subjected to trypsin indicated that unglycosylated rhLF was much more susceptible to degradation. Furthermore, this analysis suggests that N-glycosylation heterogeneity in natural hLF and rhLF resides in the C-lobe. Thus our results provide no argument for differential antibacterial and/or anti-inflammatory activity of natural and (glycosylated) rhLF and suggest that a major function of glycosylation in hLF is to protect it against proteolysis.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Expression analysis of the individual bovine beta-, alpha s2- and kappa-casein genes in transgenic mice.

To identify cis-acting regulatory elements involved in the regulation of expression of the casein genes, the bovine beta-, alpha s2- and kappa-casein genes were isolated from cosmid libraries and introduced into the murine germline. Bovine casein expression was analysed at the RNA and protein level. The bovine beta-casein gene, including 16 kb of 5'- and 8 kb of 3'-flanking region, appeared to be expressed in all 12 transgenic mouse lines analysed. In 50% of these lines expression levels in milk exceeded 1 mg/ml. Three lines displayed expression levels comparable with or well above (20 mg/ml) the beta-casein levels in bovine milk. Transgene expression was restricted to the mammary gland. Strong induction of expression occurred at parturition and thus resembled the bovine rather than the murine pattern. In spite of this high-level tissue-specific and developmentally regulated expression, beta-casein expression levels were integration-site-dependent, suggesting that not all elements involved in regulation of expression were included in this beta-casein clone. Neither the bovine alpha s2- nor the kappa-casein gene, including 8 kb and 5 kb of 5'- and 1.5 kb and 19 kb of 3'-flanking sequences respectively, were properly expressed in transgenic mice. However, they were transcribed in stably transfected mouse mammary epithelial cells. This indicates that regulatory elements required for high-level, mammary gland-specific expression are not present in the alpha s2- and kappa-casein clones used in this study and are probably located elsewhere in the casein gene locus.

Animals↗

Expression of human lactoferrin in milk of transgenic mice.

The expression of human lactoferrin (hLF) in the milk of transgenic mice is described. Regulatory sequences derived from the bovine alpha S1-casein gene were fused to the coding sequence of the hLF cDNA and several lines of transgenic mice were generated. Human LF RNA was detected exclusively in the mammary gland of lactating females and only after the onset of lactation. No aberrant RNA products could be detected using northern blotting and primer extension analysis. The hLF concentrations in the milk ranged from less than 0.1 to 36 micrograms ml-1. Human LF thus expressed did not differ from human milk derived LF, with respect to molecular mass and immunoreactivity with monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies.

Animals↗

Efficient generation of functional transgenes by homologous recombination in murine zygotes.

To assess the feasibility of generating functional transgenes directly via homologous recombination between microinjected DNA fragments, three overlapping genomic DNA fragments, together constituting the human serum albumin (hSA) gene, were coinjected into murine zygotes. The resulting transgenic mice were analyzed for structure and expression of the transgene. All transgenic mice carried recombined hSA DNA fragments and 74% contained a reconstituted hSA gene. HSA expression could be detected in liver and serum in most (72%) of these animals. Only correctly sized hSA transcripts were observed. Transgenic hSA could not be distinguished from the human serum-derived protein by radioimmunoassay or Western blotting. The high frequency and accuracy of homologous recombination in murine zygotes reported here allows the efficient generation of relatively large transgenes.

Animals↗

Sequence of mdr3 cDNA encoding a human P-glycoprotein.

We have determined the sequence of the human mdr3 gene using cDNA derived from liver RNA. The mdr3 gene codes for a member of a family of membrane proteins, the P-glycoproteins, overproduced in many multi-drug-resistant (MDR) cell lines. Like its relatives, the protein encoded by mdr3 has a deduced Mr of 140,000, which is presumably increased by glycosylation after synthesis. The sequence consists of two similar halves, each with a series of six hydrophobic segments that may form a membrane channel. The halves also possess nucleotide-binding consensus sequences, which presumably act as ATPases and drive drug transport. The presumed ATPase domains are all but identical to those of the human mdr1 gene product [Chen et al., Cell 47 (1986) 381-389]. We attribute this high level of sequence conservation to the repeated gene conversion that is evident from segments in which mdr1 and mdr3 differ only in a few silent mutations. Divergence between P-glycoprotein family members is greatest at the N terminus and in the 60 amino acid linker connecting the two halves. In the putative trans-membrane domains approx. 80% of the amino acids are conserved between the products of mdr1 and mdr3. Although the function of mdr3 is not yet known, its high homology with mdr1 suggests that it also encodes an efflux pump with broad specificity.

ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Mem↗

The human mdr3 gene encodes a novel P-glycoprotein homologue and gives rise to alternatively spliced mRNAs in liver.

We have found cDNAs corresponding to a novel human P-glycoprotein gene in liver cDNA banks. The sequence of the 3' part of this cDNA reveals a domainal organization of the derived protein similar to that of the known P-glycoproteins and an 80% amino acid homology with the product of the human mdr1 gene (Chen et al., 1986). The new gene lies within 500 kb from mdr1 as determined by pulsed field gradient gel electrophoresis and is designated mdr3, as it appears to correspond to the third of the three P-glycoprotein genes mapped in the hamster multidrug resistance domain. mdr3 yields a transcript of 4100 nucleotides, 400 nucleotides less than the mdr1 transcript; the difference is accounted for by the shorter 3'-untranslated region of the mdr3 mRNA. Our cDNAs provide evidence for alternative splicing of mdr3 pre-mRNAs. One alternative is an insert of seven amino acids between the two major blocks of the nucleotide binding site and another is a deletion of 43 or 47 amino acids covering the putative transmembrane segment 5a. We speculate that these alternatives superimposed on differential expression of P-glycoprotein homologues could provide an explanation for the large variation in cross-resistance patterns observed in cell lines selected for multidrug resistance with different cytostatic drugs.

ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Mem↗