J
ames D. Murray
B.S University of Wyoming, Laramie, 1974 Zoology and Physiology
M.S. University of Wyoming, Laramie, 1975 Zoology and Physiology
Ph.D. Macquarie University, Australia, 1980 Biology (genetics)Fellow American Association for the Advancement of Science
Member Genetic Society of America, Genetic Society of Australia, International Society for Animal Genetics, American Dairy Science Association, American Association for the Advancement of Science
My research program is divided between to areas: genetic engineering of mammals and horse genomics. Within the work centered on transgenic animal biology we work on a number of gene systems designed either as research models (ovine growth hormone transgenic mice) or to livestock for use in agriculture. Within the latter area we are focused on manipulating the mammary gland to improve the properties of milk for human consumption. We also carry out work to improve the technology associated with genetically engineering large animals.
Mammary gland directed transgenes:
The expectation for this work is that the expression of specific transgenes in the mammary epithelium will lead to altered processing properties, changed lipid composition, increased anti-microbial properties, or result in other health-related or economically valuable alterations in the milk. My laboratory’s work principally has been centered on the development and characterization of transgenic mice, then goats, as models for the eventual genetic manipulation of dairy cattle. We have worked on the expression and characterization of transgenic animals expressing human lysozyme, bovine kappa-casein, and the rat stearyol-CoA desaturase. The most advanced work, in collaboration with Dr Elizabeth Maga, concerns the consequences of expressing human lysozyme in the milk of dairy animals. We have an established a herd of human lysozyme transgenic dairy goats and are currently studying the properties of this milk. We are also studying the potential effects of carrying and expressing this transgene on the health and welfare of the animals and the safety of the dairy products for human consumption.
Bacterial plates showing growth after 48 hours at room temperature in un-pastuerized human lysozyme-containing milk (left) and control milk (right).
Improving the efficiency of gene transfer:
The laboratory has conducted a number of studies with the goal of developing promoter systems, improved technology, or methods to increase the efficiency of genetic engineering in livestock. Work initially focused on using the bacterial Rec A protein to coat DNA constructs and has since shifted to the application of RNAi to manipulate endogenous protein levels in an attempt to influence the mechanisms responsible for the integration of exogenous DNA.
Mapping the Horse Genome:
With a colleague in the School of Veterinary Medicine, Dr Cecilia Penedo my laboratory is involved in an international effort to develop genomic tools for use in horse research. We have contributed to international efforts to develop physical and genetic maps of the horse genome and the application of these tools to the identification of loci responsible for traits of interest in the horse. In addition to developing genomic tools we are currently working to determine the genetic basis for the Dun dilution in the horse.
Graduate students:
I am currently a member of the Genetics Graduate Group and the Animal Biology Graduate Group. Both groups have programs leading to the M.S. and Ph.D. degrees. Currently I have three Ph.D. students.
Professional activities:
Advisory Editorial Board member Trends in Biotechnology.
Chair of the organizing committee for the bi-annual U.C. Davis Transgenic Animal Research Conference, a three-day international meeting on the topic of transgenic animals in research (1997, 1999, 2001, 2003, 2005, and 2007). Abstracts of presentations and posters for meetings 2 through 6 may be found in Transgenic Research. The seventh meeting is currently being planned for August 2009.
Recent publications:
Transgenic technology:
Maga, E.A., Sargent, R.G., Zeng, H, Pati S., Zarling, D.A., Oppenheim, S.M., Collette, N.M.B., Moyer, A.L., Conrad-Brink, J.S., Rowe, J.D., BonDurant, R.H., Anderson, G.B. and Murray, J.D. (2003). Increased Efficiency of Transgenic Livestock Production. Transgenic Research 12:485-496.
Mason, J.B., Najarian, J.G., Anderson, G.B., Murray, J.D. and Maga, E.A. (2006). The effect of coating single- and double-stranded DNA with the recombinase A protein of Escherichia coli on transgene integration in mice. Transgenic Research 15:703-710.
Bertolini, L.R., Bertolini, M., Anderson, G.B., Maga, E.A., Madden, K.R. and Murray, J.D. (2007). Transient depletion of Ku70 and Xrcc4 by RNAi as a means to manipulate the non-homologous end-joining pathway. J. Biotech. 128:246-257.
Transgene biology:
Reh, W.A. Maga, E.A., Collette, N.M.B., Moyer, A., Conrad-Brink, J.S., Taylor, S.J., DePeters, E.J., Oppenheim, S., Rowe, J.D., BonDurant, R.H., Anderson, G.B. and Murray, J.D. (2004). Hot Topic: Using a Stearoyl-CoA Desaturase Transgene to Alter Milk Fatty Acid Composition. J. Dairy Science:87:3510-3514.
Oberbauer, A.M., Stiglich, C., Murray, J.D., Keen, C.L., Fong, D.L., Smith, L.B. and Cushwa, S. (2004). Dissociation of body growth and adipose deposition effects of growth hormone in oMt1a-oGH transgenic mice. Growth, Devel. & Aging 68:33-45.
Thomas AD, Murray JD, Oberbauer AM. (2004). Leptin modulates fertility under the influence of elevated growth hormone as modeled in oMt1a-oGH transgenic mice. J Endocrinol. 182:421-32.
Thomas, A.D., Murray, J.D. and Oberbauer, A.M. (2005). Transgene transmission to progeny by oMt1a-oGH transgenic mice. Transgenic Research 14:441-448.
Maga, E.A., Shoemaker, C.F., Rowe, J.D., BonDurant, R.H., Anderson, G.B. and Murray, J.D. (2006). Production and processing of milk from transgenic goats expressing human lysozyme in the mammary gland. J. Dairy Sci. 89:518-524.
Maga, E.A., Walker, R.L., Anderson, G.B. and Murray, J.D. (2006). Consumption of milk from transgenic goats expressing human lysozyme in the mammary gland results in the modulation of intestinal microflora. Transgenic Research 15:515-519.
Maga, E.A., Cullor, J.S., Smith, W., Anderson, G.B. and Murray, J.D. (2006). Human lysozyme expressed in the mammary gland of transgenic dairy goats can inhibit the growth of bacteria that cause mastitis and the cold-spoilage of milk. Foodborne Pathogens & Disease 3:384-392.
Horse genomics:
G. Guérin, E. Bailey, D. Bernoco, I. Anderson, D. F. Antczak, K. Bell, I. Biros, G. Bjornstad, A.T. Bowling, R. Brandon, A. R. Caetano, G. Cholewinski, D. Colling, M. Eggleston, N. Ellis, J. Flynn, B. Gralak, T. Hasegawa, M. Ketchum, G. Lindgren, L.A. Lyons, L.V. Millon, D. Mariat, J. Murray, A. Neau, K. Røed, K. Sandberg, L.C. Skow, I. Tammen, T. Tozaki, E. Van Dyk, B. Weiss, A. Young, J. Ziegle. (2003) The second generation of the International Equine Gene Mapping Workshop half-sibling linkage map. Animal Genetics 34:161-168.
Bricker, S.J., Brault, L.S., DelValle, A., Millon, L.V., Murray, J.D. and Penedo, M.C.T. (2005). Radiation hybrid and linkage mapping of six new type I markers in the horse. Animal Genetics 36:182-184.
Patents:
Murray, J.D., Maga, E.A., Anderson, G.B., and Oppenheim, S.M. (2007). Method of Generating a Transgenic Livestock Animal. U.S. Patent Number 7,199,281 B2.
Murray, J.D. and Maga, E.A. (2007). Stearoyl Co-A Desaturase Transgenic Non-human Animals. U.S. Patent Number 7,244,874.
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