A moloney mlv-rat somatotropin fusion gene produces biologically active somatotropin in a transgenic pig

Expression of a Moloney murine leukemia virus (MLV) rat somatotropin fusion gene was examined in a transgenic pig. The fusion gene was integrated in a single site within the genome in a tandem array with approximately eight copies per cell. The integrated MLV-rat somatotropin fusion gene produced high levels of circulating rat somatotropin and resulted in an elevation in the circulating levels of insulin-like growth factor I. Although there was no increase in the rate of growth of the transgenic animal during the rapid growth phase, several phenotypic changes were evident. Skeletal growth was markedly increased and fat deposition was reduced throughout the animal. Blood glucose levels were elevated without ketosis. Northern blot analyses of rat somatotropin RNA revealed that expression of the fusion gene was highest in the spleen, lung, intestine, lymph nodes, and bone marrow. These results show that the MLV promoter can be used to express high levels of biologically active rat somatotropin in transgenic swine.