Tg(HHV8ORF73,TK-GFP)1Dtmr

The bicistronic transgene contains the protein-coding sequence of ORF73 from human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8; commonly known as Kaposi sarcoma-associated herpesvirus, KSHV), encoding the viral latency-associated nuclear antigen (LANA), downstream of 1299 bp of viral DNA containing the native ORF73 5' regulatory sequences; the cellular thymidine kinase (Tk) promoter followed by the green fluorescent protein (GFP) coding sequence and an SV40 polyadenylation signal reside downstream of the LANA coding sequence. Northern blot analysis detects ORF73 mRNA in spleens and sometimes kidneys of transgenic mice, and immunohistochemistry demonstrates presence of LANA in proliferating cell nuclear antigen-(PCNA-)positive cells in the central region of splenic follicles. No GFP fluorescence has been detected in the transgenic mice. (J:106515)