Inducible Gene Expression in Mammalian Cells and Mice

Inducible expression of desired transgenes in mammalian cells and animals is a current priority in basic and applied research, biopharmaceutical manufacturing, gene therapy, and tissue engineering, as well as in drug discovery. Among the most prominent human-compatible transgene control technologies are engineered promoter/transactivator configurations that adjust heterologous target gene transcription in response to clinically licensed antibiotics (tetracyclines, streptogramins, macrolides). In this chapter we provide a detailed case study on macrolide-inducible expression of the human model glycoprotein SEAP (human placental secreted alkaline phosphatase) in transgenic Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cell cultures or following implantation of microencapsulated CHO cells into mice.