Tg(Zp3-EGFP)1Dean

The ~8.1 kb transgene comprises the mouse Zp3 cDNA into which the the enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) cDNA has been inserted downstream of the sequence encoding the 40 amino acid N-terminal signal peptide. Expression of the fusion gene is driven by ~6 kb of the oocyte-specific mouse Zp3 promoter. Ovulated ova and growing oocytes from transgenic mice exhibit EGFP fluorescence throughout the matrix of the zona pellucida; surrounding somatic cells do not fluoresce. Mature oocytes exhibit the strongest signal. Smaller, growing oocytes contain large, circular structures whose boundaries fluoresce and costain with BODIPY-Texas red ceramide. (J:78932, J:86870)