Breeding Based Remobilization of Tol2 Transposon in Xenopus tropicalis

Xenopus is a powerful model for studying a diverse array of biological processes. However, despite multiple methods for transgenesis, relatively few transgenic reporter lines are available and commonly used. Previous work has demonstrated that transposon based strategies are effective for generating transgenic lines in both invertebrate and vertebrate systems. Here we show that the Tol2 transposon can be remobilized in the genome of X. tropicalis and passed through the germline via a simple breeding strategy of crossing transposase expressing and transposon lines. This remobilization system provides another tool to exploit transgenesis and opens new opportunities for gene trap and enhancer trap strategies.非洲爪蟾（Xenopus）是研究多种生物学过程的强大模式生物。然而，尽管已开发出多种转基因技术方法，但可获取且普遍使用的转基因报告品系仍相对匮乏。既往研究证实，基于转座子的策略在无脊椎动物与脊椎动物体系中均可有效生成转基因品系。本研究表明，Tol2转座子（Tol2 transposon）可在热带爪蟾（X. tropicalis）的基因组中发生再转座，并通过将表达转座酶的品系与转座子品系进行杂交这一简易繁育策略，经生殖系传递给子代。该再转座系统为转基因技术的应用提供了又一工具，同时为基因陷阱与增强子陷阱策略开辟了全新的研究机遇。