A synthetic male-specific sterilization system using the mammalian pro-apoptotic factor in a malaria vector mosquito.

ABSTRACT: Conditional cell death systems are useful for various aspects of basic science with a wide range of applications, including genetic pest control. We recently demonstrated that expression of the mammalian pro-apoptotic factor, B-cell leukaemia/lymphoma 2-associated X protein (Bax), can induce apoptosis in specific tissues by using tissue specific promoters in silkworm and mosquito. Here, we newly identified a functional promoter in the Asian malaria vector, Anopheles stephensi, which enables gene expression specifically in the testis. We produced a transgenic mosquito line that expresses mouse Bax under the control of this testis-specific promoter. Transgenic mosquito males exhibited aberrant testes without functional sperm and complete sterility, whereas transgenic females maintained norma

SUBMITTER: Yamamoto DS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6547752 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature