AUTHOR=Wang Jiankui , Cui Kai , Hua Guoying , Han Deping , Yang Zu , Li Tun , Yang Xue , Zhang Yuanyuan , Cai Ganxian , Deng Xiaotian , Deng Xuemei 

TITLE=Skin-specific transgenic overexpression of ovine β-catenin in mice

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Genetics

VOLUME=13

YEAR=2023

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/genetics/articles/10.3389/fgene.2022.1059913

DOI=10.3389/fgene.2022.1059913

ISSN=1664-8021

ABSTRACT=<p>β-catenin is a conserved molecule that plays an important role in hair follicle development. In this study, we generated skin-specific overexpression of ovine β-catenin in transgenic mice by pronuclear microinjection. Results of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing and Southern blot showed that the ovine β-catenin gene was successfully transferred into mice, and the exogenous β-catenin gene was passed down from the first to sixth generations. Furthermore, real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR (qRT-PCR) and western blot analysis showed that β-catenin mRNA was specifically expressed in the skin of transgenic mice. The analysis of F6 phenotypes showed that overexpression of β-catenin could increase hair follicle density by prematurely promoting the catagen-to-anagen transition. The results showed that ovine β-catenin could also promote hair follicle development in mice. We, therefore, demonstrate domestication traits in animals.</p>