Skin-specific transgenic overexpression of ovine beta-catenin in mice

beta-catenin is a conserved molecule that plays an important role in hair follicle development. In this study, we generated skin-specific overexpression of ovine beta-catenin in transgenic mice by pronuclear microinjection. Results of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing and Southern blot showed that the ovine beta-catenin gene was successfully transferred into mice, and the exogenous beta-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 beta-catenin mRNA was specifically expressed in the skin of transgenic mice. The analysis of F6 phenotypes showed that overexpression of beta-catenin could increase hair follicle density by prematurely promoting the catagen-to-anagen transition. The results showed that ovine beta-catenin could also promote hair follicle development in mice. We, therefore, demonstrate domestication traits in animals.