• PAUF (pancreatic adenocarcinoma upregulated factor), gene name ZG16B (zymogen granule protein 16B), is a 156 amino acid, approximately 20-25 kDa secreted protein that is a member of the jacalin-binding lectin family. PAUF expression is thought to be restricted to primates, but the related ZG16P, which shares approximately 25% amino acid sequence identity, is more widely expressed. Human PAUF is overexpressed in pancreatic adenocarcinoma, binds Toll-like receptors TLR2 and TLR4, and inhibits CXCR4-dependent, TLR2-mediated NF-kB activation. It facilitates tumor growth, adhesiveness, and production of pro-tumorigenic cytokines.
• The whole human ZG16B genome was inserted at Hipp11 (H11) locus in B-hZG16B mice.
• Human ZG16B protein was detected in prostate of homozygous B-hZG16B mice.
• Human ZG16B mRNA was detectable in parotid gland of homozygous B-hZG16B mice.

Gene targeting strategy for B-hZG16B mice. The whole human ZG16B genome was inserted at Hipp11 (H11) locus in B-hZG16B mice.

Strain specific analysis of ZG16B mRNA expression in wild-type C57BL/6 mice and B-hZG16B mice by RT-PCR. Parotid gland RNA were isolated from wild-type C57BL/6 mice (+/+) and homozygous B-hZG16B mice (H/H), then cDNA libraries were synthesized by reverse transcription, followed by PCR with human ZG16B primers. Human ZG16B mRNA was detectable only in homozygous B-hZG16B mice but not in wild-type mice.

Western blot analysis of ZG16B protein expression in homozygous B-hZG16B mice. Various tissue lysates were collected from wild-type C57BL/6 mice and homozygous B-hZG16B mice (H/H), and then analyzed by western blot with anti-human ZG16B antibody. 40 μg total proteins were loaded for western blotting analysis. Human ZG16B was detected in prostate of homozygous B-hZG16B mice.