High-level expression of bovine beta-lactoglobulin gene in transgenic mice

To study the expression of the bovine beta-lactoglobulin (BLG) gene we isolated the BLG gene from a genomic library and introduced it into murine germline. Bovine BLG gene including 2.8 kbp of 5' and 1.9 kbp of 3' flanking region was expressed efficiently and mammary gland-specifically in transgenic mice. Expression levels of BLG in milk exceeded 1 mg ml-1 in all four mouse lines analyzed. However, in two mouse lines originating from female founders BLG expression levels varied from less than 0.02 mg ml-1 up to 1 mg ml-1. In both lines originating from male founders all analyzed female mice excreted bovine BLG into their milk at a high and constant level of 1-2 mg ml-1. BLG expression was stable within individual mice in two successive lactations and the amount of BLG in the milk of mice correlated with the level of BLG mRNA in the mammary tissue. Methylation analyses of HpaII sites revealed that transgene copies were on average more methylated in mice which excreted low levels of BLG into their milk. Each mouse line had its own methylation pattern and, in addition, each mouse had more or less identical methylation patterns in mammary gland, brain and kidney DNA. Genomic sequencing of the BLG gene indicated that the promoter region (bases -162 to +391 with respect to the transcription start site) was heavily methylated except for distinct CpG sites that were only partially methylated both in transgenic mice and lactating cattle.