Efficient gene delivery and gene expression in zebrafish using the Sleeping Beauty transposon

Ann E. Davidson, Darius Balciunas, Deanna Mohn, Jennifer Shaffer, Spencer Hermanson, Sridhar Sivasubbu, M. Pat Cliff, Perry B. Hackett, Stephen C. Ekker

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

186 Scopus citations

Abstract

We used the Tc1/mariner family transposable element Sleeping Beauty (SB) for transgenesis and long-term expression studies in the zebrafish (Danio rerio), a popular organism for clinical disease, vertebrate patterning, and cell biology applications. SB transposase enhanced the transgenesis and expression rate sixfold (from 5 to 31%) and more than doubled the total number of tagged chromosomes over standard, plasmid injection-based transgenesis methods. Molecular analysis of these loci demonstrated a precise integration of these elements into recipient chromosomes with genetic footprints diagnostic of transposition. GFP expression from transposase-mediated integrants was Mendelian through the eighth generation. A blue-shifted GFP variant (BFP) and a red fluorescent protein (DsRed) were also useful transgenesis markers, indicating that multiple reporters are practical for use with SB in zebrafish. We showed that SB is suitable for tissue-specific transgene applications using an abbreviated gamma-crystallin GFP cassette. Finally, we describe a general utility transposon vector for chromosomal engineering and molecular genetics experiments in zebrafish. Together, these data indicate that SB is an efficient tool for transgenesis and expression in zebrafish, and that the transposon will be useful for gene expression in cell biology applications as well as an insertional mutagen for gene discovery during development.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)191-202
Number of pages12
JournalDevelopmental Biology
Volume263
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Nov 15 2003

Keywords

  • Insertional mutagenesis
  • Sleeping Beauty
  • Transgene expression
  • Transposon
  • Zebrafish

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Molecular Biology
  • Developmental Biology
  • Cell Biology

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Efficient gene delivery and gene expression in zebrafish using the Sleeping Beauty transposon'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this