Transgenic animals expressing salivary proteins
AssigneeUniversity of Guelph
InventorsCecil W. Forsberg, Serguei Golovan, John P. Phillips
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Abstract
The invention provides a transgenic animal having within its genome a transgene construct for gastrointestinal tract specific expression of a protein. In a preferred embodiment, the protein is a phytase or a homologue thereof. Such proteins may be heterologous and may be specifically expressed in the salivary gland of the animal by operably linking the nucleic acid sequence encoding the protein with regulatory sequence including a salivary gland protein promoter/enhancer. Also provided are methods of expressing and producing proteins using such nucleic acid constructs. Further, antibodies specific to such proteins and immunological diagnostic kits are also provided.
Claims23
A transgenic non-human mammal that carries in the genome of its somatic and germ cells a transgene construct comprising (a) a transgene encoding a phytase protein operably linked to (b) a first mammalian regulatory sequence for salivary gland expression of said protein and (c) a signal sequence for secretion of said protein wherein said mammal is selected from the group consisting of pigs, goats, sheep, cows and horses and the mammal expresses and secretes the protein in its salivary glands.
A method of expressing and secreting a phytase protein in the salivary gland of a non-human mammal, the method comprising the steps of:
- a) introducing a transgene construct into a non-human mammalian embryo such that a non-human transgenic mammal that develops from said embryo has a genome that comprises said transgene construct wherein said transgene construct comprises:
- i) a transgene encoding said phytase protein,
- ii) at least one mammalian regulatory sequence for salivary gland expression of said phytase protein, and
- (iii) a signal sequence for secretion of said phytase protein
- b) transferring said embryo to a foster female;
- and,
- c) developing said embryo into said transgenic mammal
- wherein said phytase is expressed and secreted in the salivary gland of said mammal, wherein said mammal is selected from the group consisting of pigs, goats, sheep, cows and horses.
A process for producing a phytase protein comprising the steps of:
- a) obtaining salivary gland secretion containing said phytase protein from a non-human transgenic mammal selected from the group consisting of pigs, goats sheep, cows and horses, said mammal containing within its genome a transgene construct, wherein said transgene construct comprises:
- i) a transgene encoding said phytase protein,
- ii) at least one mammalian regulatory sequence for salivary gland specific expression of said protein, and
- (iii) a signal sequence for secretion of said phytase protein;
- and
- extracting said protein from said saliva.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.