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Disruption of the c/ebp alpha gene in adult mouse liver.
- Source :
-
Molecular and cellular biology [Mol Cell Biol] 1997 Oct; Vol. 17 (10), pp. 6014-22. - Publication Year :
- 1997
-
Abstract
- The liver-enriched transcription factor C/EBP alpha has been implicated in the regulation of numerous liver-specific genes. It was previously reported that mice carrying a homozygous null mutation at the c/ebp alpha locus died as neonates due to the absence of hepatic glycogen and the resulting hypoglycemia. However, the lethal phenotype precluded further analysis of the role of C/EBP alpha in hepatic gene regulation in adult mice. To circumvent this problem, we constructed a conditional knockout allele of c/ebp alpha by using the Cre/loxP recombination system. Homozygous c/ebp-loxP mice, (c/ebp alpha(fl/fl);fl, flanked by loxP sites) were found to be indistinguishable from their wild-type counterparts. However, when Cre recombinase was delivered to hepatocytes of adult c/ebp alpha(fl/fl) mice by infusion of a recombinant adenovirus carrying the cre gene, more than 80% of the c/ebp alpha(fl/fl) genes were deleted specifically in liver and C/EBP alpha expression was reduced by 90%. This condition resulted in a reduced level of bilirubin UDP-glucuronosyltransferase expression in the liver. After several days, the knockout mice developed severe jaundice due to an increase in unconjugated serum bilirubin. The expression of genes encoding phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase, glycogen synthase, and factor IX was also strongly reduced in adult conditional-knockout animals, while the expression of transferrin, apolipoprotein B, and insulin-like growth factor I genes was not affected. These results establish C/EBP alpha as an essential transcriptional regulator of genes encoding enzymes involved in bilirubin detoxification and gluconeogenesis in adult mouse liver.
- Subjects :
- Adenoviruses, Human genetics
Animals
Bilirubin blood
Blood Proteins analysis
CCAAT-Enhancer-Binding Proteins
DNA-Binding Proteins genetics
Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental physiology
Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic physiology
Gluconeogenesis physiology
Glucuronosyltransferase genetics
Homozygote
Integrases
Liver chemistry
Liver enzymology
Mice
Mice, Knockout
Nuclear Proteins genetics
RNA, Messenger analysis
DNA-Binding Proteins physiology
Genes, Regulator genetics
Liver physiology
Nuclear Proteins physiology
Viral Proteins
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 0270-7306
- Volume :
- 17
- Issue :
- 10
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- Molecular and cellular biology
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 9315660
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1128/MCB.17.10.6014