Germline Transmission of a Circular Human Artificial Chromosome in the Mouse

Abstract

Although the structure and function of the alphoid-tetO Human Artificial Chromosome (tetO-HAC) has been previously described in cell culture models and somatically in the mouse, in vivo persistence and stability throughout meiosis and across generations were not evaluated. Here we report germline transmission of a circular tetO-HAC across three mouse generations without observable health or reproductive deficiencies. Furthermore, we show that the tetO-HAC is maintained without selection as an episome and can be efficiently transmitted by both ova and sperm.