Jm. Fadool et al., TRANSPOSITION OF THE MARINER ELEMENT FROM DROSOPHILA-MAURITIANA IN ZEBRAFISH, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United Statesof America, 95(9), 1998, pp. 5182-5186
With the increased popularity of zebrafish (Danio rerio) for mutagenes
is studies, efficient methods for manipulation of its genome are neede
d. One approach is the use of a transposable element as a vector for g
ene transfer in this species. We report here the transformation of zeb
rafish and germ-line transmission of the mariner element from Drosophi
la mauritiana. The mariner element was selected because its transposit
ion is independent of host-specific factors. One- to two-cell-stage ze
brafish embryos were coinjected with a supercoiled plasmid carrying th
e nonautonomous mariner element peach and mRNA encoding the transposas
e, Surviving larvae were reared to adulthood, and the transmission of
peach to the F-1 generation was tested by PCR. Four of the 12 founders
, following plasmid injections on 2 different days, transmitted the el
ement to their progeny. Inheritance of the transgene from the F-1 to t
he F-2 generation showed a Mendelian pattern. No plasmid sequences mer
e detected by PCR or Southern blot analysis, indicating transposition
of peach rather than random integration of the plasmid DNA. These data
provide evidence of transformation of a vertebrate with a transposabl
e element and support the host-independent mechanism for transposition
of the mariner element. We suggest this system could be used for inse
rtional mutagenesis or for identifying active regions of the genome in
the zebrafish.