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Expression of exogenous protein in the egg white of transgenic chickens

Nature Biotechnology volume 20, pages 396–399 (2002)Cite this article

Abstract

Using a replication-deficient retroviral vector based on the avian leukosis virus (ALV), we inserted into the chicken genome a transgene encoding a secreted protein, β-lactamase, under the control of the ubiquitous cytomegalovirus (CMV) promoter. Biologically active β-lactamase was secreted into the serum and egg white of four generations of transgenic chickens. The expression levels were similar in successive generations, and expression levels in the magnum of the oviduct were constant over at least 16 months in transgenic hens, indicating that the transgene was stable and not subject to silencing. These results support the potential of the hen as a bioreactor for the production of commercially valuable, biologically active proteins in egg white.

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Figure 1: Vector organization and overview of transgenic lineages. (A) Schematic of NLB-CMV-BL.
Figure 2: β-lactamase in the eggs of G2 and G3 hens bred from rooster 4133.
Figure 3: Western blot analysis of β-lactamase in the egg white of transgenic hens.

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Acknowledgements

We thank Robert Harvey for the β-lactamase plasmid and Henry Marks and the University of Georgia Poultry Science Department for access to poultry facilities. We thank Wei Hu, Lyn Olliff, Michael Morgan, Jeff Rapp, Sara Mathews, Heath Sellers, and Tom Beacorn for technical assistance. This work was supported in part by research grants to R.I. from the Georgia Research Alliance, the Applied Technology Development Corp., and AviGenics, Inc.

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Author notes

  1. Gordon Speksnijder

    Present address: AviGenics, Inc., Georgia BioBusiness Center, 111 Riverbend Rd., Athens, GA, 30605

  2. Larry R. Baugh

    Present address: Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard University, 16 Divinity Street, Cambridge, MA, 02138

Authors and Affiliations

  1. AviGenics, Inc., Georgia BioBusiness Center, 111 Riverbend Rd., Athens, 30605, GA

    Alex J. Harvey

  2. Department of Genetics, University of Georgia, Athens, 30602-7223, GA

    Gordon Speksnijder, Larry R. Baugh, Julie A. Morris & Robert Ivarie

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  1. Alex J. Harvey
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Correspondence to Alex J. Harvey.

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Harvey, A., Speksnijder, G., Baugh, L. et al. Expression of exogenous protein in the egg white of transgenic chickens. Nat Biotechnol 20, 396–399 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1038/nbt0402-396

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