Nuclear transfer of goat somatic cells transgenic for human lactoferrin gene

Transgenic animal mammary gland bioreactors are used to produce recombinant proteins with appropriate post-translational modifications.The nuclear transfer of transgenic somatic cells is a powerful method to produce mammary gland bioreactors.We established an efficient gene transfer and nuclear transfer approach in goat somatic cells.Gene targeting vector pGBC2LF was constructed by cloning human lactoferrin(LF)gene cDNA into exon 2 of the milk goat beta-casein gene and the endogenous start codon was replaced by that of human LF gene.Goat fetal fibroblasts were transfected with lin-earized pGBC2LF and 14 cell lines were positive accord-ing to PCR and Southern blot.The transgenic cells were used as donor cells of nuclear transfer and some of recon-structed embryos could develop into blastocyst in vitro.

A comprehensive analysis of immunoglobulin heavy chain genes in the Bactrian camel(Camelus bactrianus)

Heavy chain only antibodies(HCAbs)represent a rare type of antibody that is devoid of light chains and the CH1 domain that have been reported in cartilaginous fish and camelids.By analyzing transcript data and genome sequences,we conducted a comprehensive analysis of Bactrian camel immunoglobulin heavy chain genes.Based on the transcript data,oneμgene,fiveγgenes,oneαgene and oneεgene were found.Additionally,the variable region of HCAbs(VHH)and the conventional antibodies(VH)sequences associated with theγ3,γ1a/b andμgenes were amplified.Based on these genome sequences,seven DH,six JH,μ,γ2a,γ2c,α,andεgenes and a portion of aγ3 gene were observed.Different Kozak sequences within different VH families were found in our analysis,and the variability index differed between the VHH3 and VH3 families.Phylogenetic analysis of the constant regions of the camelid immunoglobulin genes indicates that these genes appeared before the evolutionary divergence of Bactrian camels and dromedaries.