Generation of transgenic quail through germ cell-mediated germline transmission

FASEB J. 2008 Jul;22(7):2435-44. doi: 10.1096/fj.07-101485. Epub 2008 Feb 8.

Abstract

Here, we describe the production of transgenic quail via a germline transmission system using postmigratory gonadal primordial germ cells (gPGCs). gPGCs retrieved from the embryonic gonads of 5-day-old birds were transduced with a lentiviral vector and subsequently transferred into recipient embryos. Testcross and genetic analyses revealed that among three germline chimeric G0 quail, one male produced transgenic offspring; of 310 hatchlings from the transgenic germline chimera, 24 were identified as donor-derived offspring, and 6 were transgenic (6/310, 1.9%). Conventional transgenesis using stage X blastodermal embryos was also conducted, but the efficiency of transgenesis was similar between the two systems (<1.6 vs. 1.9% for the conventional and gPGC-mediated systems, respectively). However, substantial advantages can be gained from gPGC-mediated method in that it enables an induced germline modification, whereas direct retroviral transfer to stage X embryos causes mosaic integration. The use of gonadal PGCs for transgenesis may lead to the production of bioreactors.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Animals, Genetically Modified
  • Blastoderm / physiology
  • Coturnix / genetics
  • Coturnix / physiology*
  • Crosses, Genetic
  • Embryo, Nonmammalian / physiology
  • Feathers / physiology
  • Female
  • Germ Cells / physiology
  • Germ-Line Mutation
  • Male
  • Ovum / physiology