Tg(KRT5-Terf2)PMBlas

The full-length mouse Terf2 cDNA was placed under control of the 5' regulatory region of the bovine keratin K5 promoter, which targets TERF2 to basal cells and stem cells of the epidermis. Three lines were generated and analyzed (PM, PN and PO); a fourth line (PL) had undetectable levels of transgene expression and was not studied further. In the PM line, the transgene is linked to the X chromosome and is selectively silenced in transgenic females. The PM line (males only) showed the highest levels of Terf2 mRNA expression in tail and back skin (~59 times greater than wild-type controls), followed by the PO line (~23 times greater) and the PN line (~12 times greater). Western blot analysis revealed significantly elevated TERF2 protein levels in primary keratinocytes derived from PM and PO transgenic mice. Combined immunofluorescence and telomeric Q-FISH analysis showed that the overexpressed TERF2 protein localized to telomeres. (J:102653)