Evidence of green fluorescent protein and growth hormone expression in red abalone (Haliotis rufescens) larvae.

The red abalone Haliotis rufescens is a highly appreciated mollusk in the national and international markets. Due to its natural over-exploitation and low growth rate, several genetic improvements were made, however special efforts are needed to increase its production. This study presents transgenic abalone’s larvae expressing green fluorescent protein (GFP) fused to Cobia (Rachycentron canadum) Growth Hormone (GH) using sperm media transgenesis technique (SMT), pAcGFP1-N vector under the control of cytomegalovirus (CMV) promoter. Sperms were exposed to three voltages (0.5, 0.75 and 1.0 Kv) using a micropulser electroporator (Bio-Rad®). The highest GFP-GH expression average (40%) was obtained in abalone larvae at 0.75 v. GFP and GH transgenes were positively detected by PCR, western blot and confocal microscope, respectively.