Unexpected high testis-specific transcriptional activity of the cyclin T1 promoter in transgenic mice.

The ubiquitously expressed cyclin T1 gene encodes for a protein involved in human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) transcription activation. The goat gene was recently shown to share an expression pattern similar to that of its endogenous counterpart when incorporated into mice using a BAC insert. To assess if its promoter could target ubiquitous expression of the bovine Prnp in transgenic mice, two constructs carrying either 1 or 30 kb of cyclin T1 5'-flanking sequences were built and microinjected. Both constructs resulted in the unexpected high male germ cell-specific expression of the prion protein. These data re-question the suspected location of the cyclin T1 gene regulatory elements.