skip to main content
OSTI.GOV title logo U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Title: A method to detect transfected chloramphenicol acetyltransferase gene expression in intact animals

Journal Article · · Experimental Cell Research; (United States)
; ; ; ;  [1]
  1. Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY (USA)

A rapid procedure is described for assaying chloramphenicol acetyltransferase enzyme activity in intact animals following transfection of the RSV CAT plasmid into mouse bone marrow cells by electroporation. The reconstituted mice were injected with ({sup 14}C)chloramphenicol and ethyl acetate extracts of 24-h urine samples were analyzed by TLC autoradiography for the excretion of {sup 14}C-labeled metabolites. CAT expression in vivo can be detected by the presence of acetylated {sup 14}C-labeled metabolites in the urine within 1 week after bone marrow transplantation and, under the conditions described, these metabolites can be detected for at least 3 months. CAT expression in intact mice as monitored by the urine assay correlates with the CAT expression in the hematopoietic tissues assayed in vitro. This method offers a quick mode of screening for introduced CAT gene expression in vivo without sacrificing the mice.

OSTI ID:
5451423
Journal Information:
Experimental Cell Research; (United States), Vol. 174:1; ISSN 0014-4827
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English