@article {4629, title = {Using translational enhancers to increase transgene expression in Drosophila.}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {109}, year = {2012}, month = {2012 Apr 9}, pages = {6626-31}, abstract = {

The ability to specify the expression levels of exogenous genes inserted in the genomes of transgenic animals is critical for the success of a wide variety of experimental manipulations. Protein production can be regulated at the level of transcription, mRNA transport, mRNA half-life, or translation efficiency. In this report, we show that several well-characterized sequence elements derived from plant and insect viruses are able to function in Drosophila to increase the apparent translational efficiency of mRNAs by as much as 20-fold. These increases render expression levels sufficient for genetic constructs previously requiring multiple copies to be effective in single copy, including constructs expressing the temperature-sensitive inactivator of neuronal function Shibire(ts1), and for the use of cytoplasmic GFP to image the fine processes of neurons.

}, issn = {1091-6490}, doi = {10.1073/pnas.1204520109}, author = {Pfeiffer, Barret D and Truman, James W and Rubin, Gerald M} }