Studies of a spontaneous lethal mutation at the albino locus in SELH/Bc mice.

We report a new mutation at the albino locus in SELH/Bc mice. The mutation arose spontaneously in a male mouse that appeared to be a somatic and germ line mosaic for a new albino (c) allele, provisionally named cBc. The mutation is a recessive lethal, causing embryonic death soon after implantation. We have shown that there is no detectable activity of the Mod-2 allele in cis with the mutation and conclude that the mutation is probably a deletion that includes the c locus, the Mod-2 locus, the intervening 2 cM, and at least one locus essential for postimplantation embryonic survival, either proximal to the c locus or distal to the Mod-2 locus. This new mutation is similar to most previously reported spontaneous mutations at the albino locus in that it arose in a somatic and germ line mosaic mutant animal but differs from them in that it is an embryonic lethal when homozygous and is apparently a deletion. SELH/Bc mice appear to have a high mutation rate. This lethal albino mutation that appears to be a postmeiotic deletion should be useful in the search for the mechanism of mutagenesis in SELH/Bc mice. It may also be useful in mapping essential genes in the c-locus region.     

Electrophoretic variation in multiple recessive tester, T, stock mice

The multiple recessive tester stock, homozygous for seven recessive visible markers, has been used since the 1950s in the specific locus test of mutagenicity in the mouse. The stock was developed by W.L. Russell in Oak Ridge, sent to the MRC Radiobiology Unit (Harwell) in 1953 and then passed to Research Triangle Institute (RTI) in 1988. Stocks are maintained by random mating in all three centres. and in addition stocks that have been selected for homozygosity at certain enzyme and protein markers are kept at both Harwell and RTI. The extent of electrophoretic variation was investigated in the random bred tester stocks at Harwell in 1981 and 1990, and in both random bred and fixed tester stocks at RTI in 1990. Altogether 44 loci were scored and eight of these (Acy-1, Es-3, Gpi-1, Hba, Hbb, Idh-1, Mod-1 and Pgd) have been polymorphic in one or more colonies at various times. Three loci (Es-3, Hbb and Mod-1) had low levels of polymorphism in 1981 and had become monomorphic by 1990. Despite this slight loss of variation, overall the tester stocks show considerable variability. The proportion of polymorphic loci and mean heterozygosity is of the same order of magnitude as island populations of wild mice or other isolated random bred laboratory populations. Contamination of tester stocks with other stocks can be ruled out, and thus tester stocks can be considered to be characteristic island populations. The retention of an appreciable amount of genetic variability in tester stocks is of practical importance in designing new mutation tests involving these mice. When using these stocks, care must be taken to ensure that they are homozygous for the loci under test.     

Test of the isoallele hypothesis at the mouse first arch (far) locus

We tested the hypothesis that differences in wild-type (+) alleles (isoalleles) at the first arch (far) locus between mouse strains ICR/Bc and BALB/cGaBc are responsible for the partially dominant expression of far in the ICR/Bc genetic background, in contrast to its recessive expression in the BALB/cGaBc background. A similar hypothesis concerning isoalleles has been suggested to explain differences in heterozygote expression in some human genetic diseases but appears not to have been tested directly in mammals. First arch is lethal when homozygous. The dominant effects in ICR/Bc mice include defects in mystacial vibrissa pattern formation and cleft palate. To test the isoallele hypothesis, we made the four appropriate genetic crosses between +/far and +/+ mice between strains. The F1 progeny were scored on day 16 of gestation for defective mystacial vibrissa pattern formation and cleft palate. From all four crosses, approximately 30% of F1 fetuses (i.e., 60% of +/far fetuses) had disrupted mystacial vibrissa patterns, and only one fetus had cleft palate. The fact that all crosses produced approximately equal rates of defective progeny disproves the isoallele hypothesis for far. Therefore, differences between strains in alleles at other loci (modifier loci) must cause the differences in heterozygote (+/far) expression. This genetic design can be used for other mutations with strain differences in heterozygote expression to test the importance of isoalleles in mammals.     

Genetic analysis of the cause of exencephaly in the SELH/Bc mouse stock

A new mouse stock, SELH/Bc, having a high liability to exencephaly has been developed. About 17% of SELH fetuses are exencephalic. The genetic cause of this exencephaly was investigated in a cross to a normal related ICR/Bc strain and in subsequent classical genetic crosses (F2, first and second backcrosses). The data were compared with a number of genetic models, including that of a single recessive mutation with 17% penetrance. The data did not fit single-locus inheritance. The expectations from the multifactorial threshold model based on an underlying quantitative liability trait with additive inheritance were found to fit the data very well. The number of loci involved was estimated to be about two or three. About 70% of exencephalic SELH fetuses are female, and there is no overall deficiency of males. The relatively higher risk in females was constant across the genetic backgrounds in the experiment. In summary, the liability to exencephaly in SELH mice appears to be a multifactorial threshold trait, and it therefore resembles human neural tube defects in type of genetic etiology. SELH therefore may be a valuable animal model in the study of neural tube defects.     

Genetic Analysis of Trichocyst Discharge of the Wild Stocks of Paramecium tetraurelia*

SYNOPSIS. Aberrant discharge of trichocysts in response to picric acid occurs in 8 of the 28 wild stocks of Paramecium tetraurelia. There are at least 4 distinguishable phenotypes: nondischarge, stocks 139, 163, 169, and 242; temperature-sensitive nondischarge, stock 126; leaky nondischarge, stock 203; and a clonally unstable phenotype, stocks 146 and 148. From each of these stocks a single recessive gene causing nondischarge has been isolated by backcrosses to stock 51. The original stocks 126, 146, and 148 possess other genes which affect the extracted genes. The copper resistance locus is ～ 10 centiMorgans from nd169 and nd242, but none of the other nondischarge genes are linked to 6 marker loci. The genes nd169 and nd242 are only 0.5 centiMorgans apart making them the closest known pair of loci in P. tetraurelia. The genes nd126 and nd242 are distinguishable alleles at the same locus and the genes nd146 and nd148 are apparently identical alleles. The large number of loci involved in producing a similar phenotype in different stocks supports the idea that mutation is much more important than gene flow in this highly inbreeding species.     

Factors on the third chromosome affect the level of cyp6a2 and cyp6a8 expression in Drosophila melanogaster

The expression of two second chromosome-linked cytochrome P450 genes, Cyp6a2 and Cyp6a8, of Drosophila melanogaster was measured in various strains. Six different strains, including ry(506) and 91-C, showed low or undetectable levels of CYP6A2 and CYP6A8 mRNAs, suggesting that low expression is the wild-type phenotype of Cyp6a2 and Cyp6a8 genes. In the 91-R and MHIII-D23 strains, however, both these genes are overexpressed. In order to examine the genetic basis of Cyp6a2 and Cyp6a8 expression, CYP6A2 and CYP6A8 RNA levels were measured in the F1 hybrids of overproducer (91-R and MHIII-D23) and underproducer (ry(506) and 91-C) strains. Results showed that the total amounts of CYP6A2 and CYP6A8 mRNAs in the F1 hybrids were lower than half the amounts of these RNAs found in the overproducer parental strains. This suggested that the underproducer strains carry loci which downregulate Cyp6a2 and Cyp6a8 gene expression. To determine the chromosome linkage of these loci, several stocks homozygous for the second chromosome of overproducer 91-R strain and, therefore, homozygous for the Cyp6a2-91R and Cyp6a8-91R alleles were synthesized. The third chromosomes in all these stocks were from the underproducer ry(506) strain. The levels of expression of both Cyp6a2-91R and Cyp6a8-91R genes in these three stocks were significantly lower than that observed in the 91-R strain. One of these stocks, named iso-2, showing reduced expression, was used to synthesize two new isogenic stocks by resubstituting the third chromosome of ry(506) origin with third chromosomes of the 91-R strain. Expression of both Cyp6a2-91R and Cyp6a8-91R alleles was found to be much higher in these two resubstituted isogenic stocks than in the progenitor iso-2 stock. Taken together, these results suggest that the second chromosome-linked Cyp6a2 and Cypa8 genes are regulated by loci present on the third chromosome, and the wild-type function of these loci is to repress these two Cyp genes. The data also suggest that Cyp6a2 and Cyp6a8 overexpression in the 91-R and MHIII-D23 strains is more likely due to mutation in the repressor locus (or loci) rather than in the cis-regulatory sequences of the Cyp6a2 and Cyp6a8 genes.     

Further genetic studies of the cause of exencephaly in SELH mice.

We have developed an inbred stock of mice called SELH that has a high frequency of the neural tube defect exencephaly at birth. A previous genetic study indicated that the exencephaly is due to two to three additive loci differing between SELH and a closely related normal strain, ICR/Bc, but this analysis was not designed to detect genetic maternal effects. Recently, we demonstrated that there is genetic polymorphism among normal mouse strains leading to differences in site of initiation of closure of the cranial neural tube. In the present study, an inbred substrain of SELH mice, with 24% exencephaly among embryos, was crossed with an unrelated normal strain, SWV/Bc, and the frequency of exencephaly in subsequent generations used to extend our understanding of the genetic cause of exencephaly in SELH mice. The purposes of the genetic studies reported here were twofold. First, based on the influence of genetic maternal effects on other genetically complex birth defects in mice, we hypothesized that the exencephaly of SELH mice would exhibit strong genetic maternal effects. This hypothesis was tested by comparisons among the four possible reciprocal backcrosses to SELH. The result was an overall frequency of 2.3% exencephaly in first backcross embryos with no difference among the four crosses and no evidence of genetic maternal effects. Second, the frequency of exencephaly recovered in the backcross and F1 embryos was compared with the previous genetic study and with various genetic models. The frequencies were similar to those obtained from the cross to ICR/Bc mice and were compatible with a hypothesis of additive gene action at a few loci.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Unequal crossingover between homologous chromosomes is not the major mechanism involved in the generation of new alleles at VNTR loci

To investigate the hypothesis that unequal exchange between homologous chromosomes is involved when new alleles are generated at VNTR loci, we used genetic linkage maps to identify flanking markers surrounding a VNTR marker locus. The minisatellite probe lambda MS1 was selected, as the hypervariable locus it detects undergoes spontaneous generation of new alleles in the germline at a rate of approximately 5%. Multipoint linkage analysis placed lambda MS1 within a cluster of polymorphic marker loci on chromosome 1p. Using the two closest flanking markers, CMM8 and YNZ2, we were able to characterize 12 new-allele events in terms of crossingover between the flanking markers. Statistical analysis of these data has allowed us to reject the model that assumes that events generating new alleles always involve unequal exchange between homologous chromosomes at meiosis.     

A malic enzyme probe detects cross-hybridizing sequences closely linked to loci encoding other metabolic enzymes.

The cytoplasmic malic enzyme (Mod-1) catalyzes the oxidative decarboxylation of malate: malate + NADP+----pyruvate + CO2 + NADPH + H+. Using a cDNA clone of Mod-1 as a probe, two new DNA markers not at the Mod-1 locus (restriction fragment length polymorphisms, RFLP) were detected by Southern blot analysis that showed extensive homology to Mod-1 sequences. Linkage of each restriction fragment length polymorphism to loci other than Mod-1 was assessed using the BXD (C57BL/6J x DBA/2J) recombinant inbred strains and confirmed by backcrosses. One polymorphic site, designated D9Rti1, was found to be closely linked to the phosphoglucomutase (Pgm-3) locus on Chromosome 9. The other hybridization site, designated D1Rti2, was closely linked to the isocitrate dehydrogenase (Idh-1) locus on Chromosome 1. The data presented imply that Mod-1 homologous sequences are tightly linked to three different metabolic enzymes.     

Genetic Differences among the a/J x C57bl/6j Recombinant Inbred Mouse Lines and Their Degree of Association with Glucocorticoid-Induced Cleft Palate

Hydrocortisone sodium phosphate was injected intramuscularly into A/J, C57BL/6J and recombinant inbred lines from these two parental lines to study the genetics of steroid-induced cleft palate in a situation of identical maternal and fetal genotypes. The strains were typed for H-2 (the major histocompatibility locus), beta-glucuronidase and beta 2-microglobulin, which served as markers on chromosomes 17, 5 and 2, respectively. Hepatic glucocorticoid binding capacity had been previously measured in Hepes buffer and Hepes buffer plus dithiothreitol (DTT). The level of glucocorticoid binding in Hepes buffer and in Hepes plus DTT, as well as their ratio, was compared to the incidence of steroid-induced cleft palate in the recombinant inbred lines. A correlation was found between the response of glucocorticoid binding to DTT (expressed as a ratio of binding in the presence of DTT to binding without DTT) and hydrocortisone-induced cleft palate. When analyzing the effect of the three chromosomal markers on hydrocortisone-induced cleft palate, the b alleles of beta 2-microglobulin and of beta-glucuronidase were associated with a higher incidence. Genetic analyses of the differences between these two inbred strains of mice in the incidence of steroid-induced cleft palate show it not to be monogenic.     

应用微卫星DNA标记对Wistar和SD大鼠封闭群的遗传学研究

封闭群大鼠的遗传质量对其医学生物学实验结果有重要影响,但目前缺乏遗传检测方法和标准.本研究应用6个微卫星标记及其荧光标记一半自动基因分型技术,对北京和上海2家单位分别提供的Wistar和Spague-Darley(SD)大鼠封闭群进行了遗传检测和评估.6个微卫星位点均具有高度多态性,在两大鼠群体共发现等位基因36个,每位点等位基因数5-8个,其多态信息含量(PIC)从0.5892(D11Mgh3)到0.8019(D6Mit1),平均为0.688l.6个位点在Wistar和SD大鼠分别发现25和26个等位基因,其平均期望杂合度分别为O.6260和0.6249.两群体的各组遗传多样性指数间无显著差异.群体间的不同微卫星位点Fst范围0.046l到0.4363.平均为0.2069,表明其遗传分化程度较大;Nei(1972)遗传距离和Nei(1978)无偏遗传距离分别为1.2862和1.2726,表明了2群体之间较大的遗传差异:Hardy-Weinberg平衡检验表明Wistar大鼠在所有检测的6个位点均非常显著偏离Haraly-WeinJaerg平衡,SD大鼠在2个位点(D6Mit1和D11Mgh3)处于遗传平衡状态,且偏离位点均表现为杂合子缺陷.因此研究表明,Wistar和SD大鼠封闭群均具有较好的遗传多样性,且两群体之间有较大的遗传差异和分化程度,分别具有各自不同的遗传特征,偏离Hardy-Weinberg遗传平衡是其繁育过程中较多存在的问题.本研究结果将为两品系大鼠遗传检测方法和标准的建立提供基础资料和依据.     

Mapping of the Mod-1 locus on mouse Chromosome 9

A new method for typing the Mod-1 locus on mouse Chromosome (Chr) 9 was developed, based on restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) within a polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-amplified fragment. The new method led us to revise the strain distribution pattern (SDP) of Mod-1 in the BXD (C57BL/6JxDBA/2J) and AKXD (AKR/J x DBA/2J) recombinant inbred (RI) strains. The new SDP eliminates several previously reported examples of double recombination events between Mod-1 and the closest flanking loci in the BXD and AKXD strains. In the BXD strains, the revised SDP of Mod-1 was identical to that of the Mod-1-related D9Rtil locus. Thus, the identity of D9Rtil as a Mod-1-related locus rather than Mod-1 itself is in question. The method was also applied to an interspecific backcross panel between an inbred strain of Mus musculus molossinus (MSM/Ms) and C57BL/6J to map Mod-1 with respect to surrounding microsatellite loci, defining the proximal localization of Mod-1 with respect to D9Mit10 with a genetic distance of 0.6±0.6 cM.     

Multifactorial genetics of exencephaly in SELH/Bc mice

BACKGROUND: The SELH/Bc mouse strain has 10-30% exencephaly and is an animal model for human neural tube closure defects. This study examined the number of causative genes, their dominance relationships, and linkage map positions. METHODS: The SELH/Bc strain (S) was crossed to the normal LM/Bc strain (L) and frequencies of exencephaly were observed in the F(1), BC(1), and F(2) generations. 102 F(2) males were individually testcrossed by SELH/Bc. The extremes, the 10 highest and 10 zero exencephaly-producing F(2) sires, were typed for 109 SSLP marker loci in a genome screen. Next, the resultant five provisional chromosomal regions were tested for linkage in 31 F(2) exencephalic embryos. Finally, 12 males, SS or LL for the Chr 13 region on an LM/Bc background, were testcrossed by SELH/Bc. RESULTS: The exencephaly frequencies in the F(1) (0.3%), BC(1) (4.4%), and F(2) (3.7%), and the distribution of F(2) males' testcross values (0-15.5%), indicated that the high risk of exencephaly in SELH/Bc is due to the cumulative effect of two or three loci. Linkage studies indicated the location of semidominant exencephaly-risk genes on Chr 13 near D13Mit13 (P < 0.001), Chr 5 near D5Mit168 (P < 0.025), and possibly Chr 11 near D11Mit10 (P < 0.07). The gene on Chr 13, Exen1, and the strong role of other loci were confirmed by the congenic males. CONCLUSIONS: The high risk of exencephaly in SELH/Bc mice is caused by the cumulative effect of two to three semidominant genes. Candidate genes include Msx2, Madh5, Ptch, and Irx1 (Chr 13) and Actb and Rac1 (Chr 5).     

Genetic changes in Atlantic salmon stocks since historical times and the effective population size of a long-term captive breeding programme

Human-caused genetic changes in two Atlanticsalmon (Salmo salar L.) stocks, from therivers Iijoki and Oulujoki in Finland, wereassessed by comparing the genetic parameters ofthese stocks before and after the hatcherybreeding of several successive generations,corresponding to 40 and 33 years since the wildstate. The changes were also compared withthose observed in a large wild salmon stock inthe River Teno during 56 years. In all, thevariation at seven microsatellite DNA loci wasexamined in 11 Atlantic salmon samplesoriginating from these three rivers. Theeffective population size, N_e, duringbreeding of the Iijoki broodstock and for theTeno salmon was also estimated by the temporalmethod based on allele frequency changes. Forthe Iijoki broodstock, the changes could betracked generation by generation from thefounding of the stock. Statisticallysignificant changes in allele frequencies werecommon in the hatchery stocks (F = 0.029, forIijoki), but not in the wild Teno stock, whichwas temporally very stable (F = 0.007). Allelicrichness decreased statistically significantly(24.8%) in the Oulujoki broodstock, from 62.1to 46.7 alleles at nine loci. On average, therewere 9.7 fewer alleles (15.7%) in thecontemporary broodstocks than in thecorresponding historical stocks. The meanheterozygosity was 6.6% lower in thecontemporary Oulujoki broodstock, but remainedunchanged in the Iijoki broodstock. Theestimated N_e for the Iijoki broodstock wasunder 80 for 4.5 generations from 1962 to 1995and for the wild Teno salmon over 900 for 56years from 1939 to 1995.     

凡纳滨对虾繁殖中不同亲本对子代遗传贡献率的差异

利用5个含有稀有等位基因的高度多态性微卫星位点比较了凡纳滨对虾繁殖中不同亲本对子代遗传贡献率的差异。通过稀有等位基因的5个微卫星位点能够对亲代和子代的谱系进行明确的鉴别。10个亲代个体中有8个个体对子代群体的基因库有贡献,不同个体之间的贡献率存在差别,最高为54.28%,最低为8.57%。在亲代和子代群体遗传结构的分析中,子代等位基因的数目与亲代相比降低了11.11%。子代的平均期望杂合度(He)、平均观测杂合度(Ho)和平均多态性信息含量(PIC)等指标均低于亲代。实验结果表明:亲本对子代基因库的贡献率的差异也是造成子代群体遗传变异水平降低的原因之一;微卫星标记可作为一种有效的工具用于对虾系谱的确认、人工繁育群体遗传多样性水平的监测等方面     

Inheritance of flower color in pickerelweed (Pontederia cordata L.)

Pickerelweed (Pontederia cordata L.) is a diploid (2n = 2x = 16), erect, emergent, herbaceous aquatic perennial. The showy inflorescences of pickerelweed make this species a prime candidate for inclusion in water gardens and aquascapes. The objective of this experiment was to determine the number of loci, number of alleles, and gene action controlling flower color (blue vs. white) in pickerelweed. Two blue-flowered and one white-flowered parental lines were used in this experiment to create S(1) and F(1) populations. F(2) populations were produced through self-pollination of F(1) plants. Evaluation of S(1), F(1), and F(2) generations revealed that flower color in these populations was controlled by 2 alleles at one locus with blue flower color completely dominant to white. We propose that this locus be named white flower with alleles W and w.     

菲律宾蛤仔大连群体不同世代的遗传多样性

采用12对有效微卫星引物对大连群体菲律宾蛤仔连续4个选育世代(F₁、F₂、F₃、F₄)的144个个体进行了遗传多样性分析。结果表明:共获121个等位基因,每个位点的等位基因数在2-6个不等,其大小在101-273 bp之间;各个世代平均等位基因数在3.75-4.58,平均观测杂合度在0.3391-0.3860之间。从F-检验结果上看,所有世代内有2个位点遗传分化较弱,8个位点遗传分化中等,2个位点遗传分化较大;配对比较F_st值(0.05-0.15)表明4个世代群体间遗传分化程度中等。F_is值表明有2个世代位点杂合度处于过剩状态;但对连续4个世代而言,每个世代均表现出一定程度的杂合子缺失。随着世代连续选育的进行,Nei氏遗传相似性逐渐减小(0.8203-0.8107-0.8031);遗传距离逐渐增大(0.1918-0.2099-0.2129);不同世代群体间遗传相似性系数为0.7873-0.8685,遗传距离为0.141-0.2391。4个世代平均PIC值为0.5055,表明选育后代遗传多样性较好,还有较大的选育潜力,可以继续进行上选。     

Genetic control of albinism in pickerelweed (Pontederia cordata L.)

Pickerelweed (Pontederia cordata L.) is a diploid (2n = 2x = 16) perennial aquaphyte. Preliminary studies revealed that a group of nonalbino pickerelweed plants maintained for breeding and inheritance studies regularly produced albino seedlings. The objective of this experiment was to determine the number of loci, number of alleles, and gene action controlling albinism in pickerelweed. Five nonalbino parental lines were used in this experiment to create S(1) and F(1) populations. F(2) populations were produced through self-pollination of F(1) plants. Evaluation of S(1), F(1), and F(2) generations allowed us to identify a single diallelic locus controlling albinism in these populations of pickerelweed, with albinism completely recessive to normal green leaf production. We propose that this locus be named albino with alleles A and a.     

Evidence for Positive Selection in the Superoxide Dismutase (Sod) Region of Drosophila Melanogaster

DNA sequence variation in a 1410-bp region including the Cu,Zn Sod locus was examined in 41 homozygous lines of Drosophila melanogaster. Fourteen lines were from Barcelona, Spain, 25 were from California populations and the other two were from laboratory stocks. Two common electromorphs, SOD(S) and SOD(F), are segregating in the populations. Our sample of 41 lines included 19 Sod(S) and 22 Sod(F) alleles (henceforward referred to as Slow and Fast alleles). All 19 Slow alleles were identical in sequence. Of the 22 Fast alleles sequenced, nine were identical in sequence and are referred to as the Fast A haplotypes. The Slow allele sequence differed from the Fast A haplotype at a single nucleotide site, the site that accounts for the amino acid difference between SOD(S) and SOD(F). There were nine other haplotypes among the remaining 13 Fast alleles sequenced. The overall level of nucleotide diversity (π) in this sample is not greatly different than that found at other loci in D. melanogaster. It is concluded that the Slow/Fast polymorphism is a recently arisen polymorphism, not an old balanced polymorphism. The large group of nearly identical haplotypes suggests that a recent mutation, at the Sod locus or tightly linked to it, has increased rapidly in frequency to around 50%, both in California and Spain. The application of a new statistical test demonstrates that the occurrence of such large numbers of haplotypes with so little variation among them is very unlikely under the usual equilibrium neutral model. We suggest that the high frequency of some haplotypes is due to natural selection at the Sod locus or at a tightly linked locus.