The transgene contains the coding sequence, 3' untranslated region and polyadenylation signal of mouse junction adhesion molecule 3 (Jam3) inserted near the 3' end of the first exon of the mouse endothelial-specific receptor tyrosine kinase gene (Tek) in a genomic DNA fragment containing 2.1 kb of upstream DNA containing Tek promoter sequences, most of exon 1 and, following the inserted Jam3 sequence, ~10 kb of the first half of intron 1, which contains endothelial cell-specific enhancer elements.
Western blot analysis of total lung lysates and of immunoprecipitates of lung lysates demonstrate elevated expression of JAM3 in lungs of transgenic mice versus control littermates. Flow cytometric analysis of dissociated lung tissue cells stained for JAM3, the endothelial-cell marker VE-cadherin and the hematopoietic cell marker CD45 show 3-fold enhanced expression of JAM3 specifically on endothelial cells.