Targeted disruption of the mouse apobec-1 gene abolishes apolipoprotein B mRNA editing and eliminates apolipoprotein B48

A site-specific C to U editing reaction modifies nuclear apolipoprotein B100 (apoB100) mRNA, producing apolipoprotein B48 in the mammalian small intestine. This reaction is mediated by a multicomponent enzyme complex, which contains a catalytic subunit, Apobec-1. We have used gene targeting to disrupt mouse apobec-1 in order to establish its requisite importance in apoB mRNA editing and also, in view of its widespread tissue distribution in rodents, as a preliminary indication of other potential roles. Both heterozygous (apobec-1(+/-)) and homozygous (apobec-1(-/-)) gene-targeted mice appear healthy and fertile with no alterations in serum cholesterol or triglyceride concentrations. The apobec-1(+/-) mice demonstrated reduced levels of hepatic apoB mRNA editing. By contrast, levels of small intestinal apoB mRNA editing were indistinguishable in wild-type and apobec-1(+/-) animals, suggesting that Apobec-1 is expressed in limited quantities in the liver but not in the small intestine. The apobec-1(-/+) mice lacked detectable levels of Apobec-1 mRNA, expressed only unedited apoB mRNA in all tissues, and contained no apoB48 in their serum, demonstrating that there is no functional duplication of this gene.