Construction and function of mammary gland specific goat GH expression vector

Area of Science:

• Biotechnology
• Genetics
• Animal Science

Background:

• Improving milk production in goats is a key goal in animal agriculture.
• Mammary gland-specific gene expression offers a targeted approach for enhancing milk composition and yield.
• Previous methods for genetic modification in goats have limitations in targeting specific loci.

Purpose of the Study:

• To construct a novel gene targeting vector (pLG) for the specific integration of exogenous goat growth hormone (GH) cDNA into the goat beta-casein locus.
• To evaluate the bioactivity and expression levels of the constructed vector in vitro and in vivo.
• To assess the potential of this vector for enhancing milk production in goats.

Main Methods:

• Cloning of 5' and 3' regulatory sequences of the goat beta-casein gene as homologous arms.
• Insertion of regulatory sequences and goat GH cDNA into the pLoxp II vector to create the pLG targeting vector.
• Transfection of Bcap-37 cells and injection into goats to assess GH expression.

Main Results:

• The pLG vector was successfully constructed, enabling mammary gland-specific gene targeting.
• GH expression in Bcap-37 cells transfected with pLG was significantly higher (14.52 ng/mL) compared to controls (7.10 ng/mL).
• GH expression in goats injected with pLG (7.54 ng/mL) was elevated compared to untreated or saline-injected controls (6.64 and 6.78 ng/mL).

Conclusions:

• The pLG vector is a functional tool for mammary gland-specific gene targeting in goats.
• The constructed vector demonstrates bioactivity, facilitating transcription and expression of goat GH both in vitro and in vivo.
• This gene targeting strategy holds promise for improving milk production traits in goats through enhanced GH expression.