[Discovery of rat Islet-1 gene variant and its expression in NSC].

AIM: To construct rat Islet-1 gene recombinant retroviral expression vector and to transduce Islet-1 gene into neural stem cell (NSC) by the vector. METHODS: The cDNA encoding the rat Islet-1 gene was isolated by RT-PCR method, the amplified gene fragment was subcloned into the retroviral vector plEGFP-C1. Islet-1 gene was transduced into NSC by PA317 packaging cells, then the expression of Islet-1 in NSC was observed. RESULTS: The recombinant Islet-1 retroviral vector was constructed successfully, as shown by PCR, restriction enzymes digestion and fluorescence detection, and the positive expression of Islet-1 was found in NSC by immunocytochemical staining. The variant of Islet-1 gene was also discovered in this study. CONCLUSION: The rat Islet-1 recombinant retroviral vector has been successfully prepared, which can be used to study the function of Islet-1 gene in NSC differentiation into cholinergic neurons.