| First Author | Beermann F | Year | 1999 |
| Journal | Cell Mol Biol (Noisy-le-grand) | Volume | 45 |
| Issue | 7 | Pages | 961-8 |
| PubMed ID | 10644000 | Mgi Jnum | J:60017 |
| Mgi Id | MGI:1352536 | Citation | Beermann F (1999) The tyrosinase related protein-1 (Tyrp1) promoter in transgenic experiments: targeted expression to the retinal pigment epithelium. Cell Mol Biol (Noisy-Le-Grand) 45(7):961-8 |
| abstractText | Transgenic experiments targeting gene expression to the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) require use of a pigment cell-specific promoter. We have chosen 1.4 kb and 4 kb from the promoter of the tyrosinase-related protein 1 gene (Tyrp1) for RPE-specific expression, since Tyrp1 mRNA and protein are detected already at midgestation in this epithelial layer. In eyes of transgenic embryos, expression of the Tyrp1-lacZ fusion construct led to strong and specific expression of beta-galactosidase in the RPE from day E10.5 onwards. The promoter thus proved useful to target expression of two different oncogenes to the RPE, a constitutively active tyrosine kinase receptor (Rfp/Ret) and SV40 T antigen (Tag). Tyrp1-Rfp/Ret transgenic mice developed microphthalmia, primarily induced by changes in the developing RPE. In addition, Tyrp1-Rfp/Ret expression induced proliferation of RPE cells leading to benign RPE tumors in the adult. Tyrp1-Tag transgenic mice developed malignant eye tumors of RPE origin, which invaded the optic nerve and led to metastasis into lymph nodes and spleen. |
