Tg(Prnp-APOE4)3R1Dbo

A human cDNA encoding the E4 variant of the APOE protein, which contains arginine in place of cysteine at amino acid position 112 (C112R), was inserted into an expression cassette containing the promoter, 5' intronic and 5' and 3' untranslated region sequences of the mouse prion protein gene. Western blot analysis revealed levels of human APOE4 approaching 100 ng/ug of total protein in brains of transgenic mice, approximately five fold that of endogenous mouse APOE. Astroglia and neurons cultured from transgenic mice contain the human protein, the level in neurons approximately five times that in astrocytes; however, secretion by astroglia is much greater. (J:72987)