Assignment of pancreatic ribonuclease gene to mouse chromosome 14

A pancreatic ribonuclease cDNA was used as a probe for Southern blot hybridization of genomic DNA from recombinant inbred strains of mice. The results indicated that the gene coding for pancreatic ribonuclease (Rib-1) can be assigned to mouse chromosome 14. Analysis of the congenic strain B10.D2(57N)Sn confirmed this assignment and indicated that Rib-1 is closely linked to the genes encoding the T-cell receptor alpha subunit (Tcra) and nucleoside phosphorylase-2 (Np-2).     

Enhance anchorage independence and tumorigenicity of aneuploid Chinese hamster cells with nearly doubled chromosome complements.

The role of a cell's chromosome complement in its tumorigenic and anchorage-independent growth properties in vitro was investigated by injecting a Chinese hamster cell line and its subclones into immunodeficient nude mice and by plating the cells in a semisolid medium containing methylcellulose. The parental WOR-6 cell clone originally consisted of 89% 1s cells and 11% cells with a nearly double (2s) complement. Tumors that developed from WOR-6 were found to consis entirely or primarily of cells with near 2s chromosome complements. Subclones of WOR-6 that contained only 1s cells rarely produced tumors in nude mice, even at high inoculum doses, whereas clones containing a high fraction of 2s cells were consistently tumorigenition, serial passage of WOR-6 cells in semisolid medium resulted in selective enrichment for near 2s cells and, concomitantly, greatly enhanced tumorigenicity. Analyses of G-banded chromosomes revealed that the 1s cells of the WOR-6 parental clone, which has a modal chromosome number of 21 and a range of 18 to 23, is completely or partially monosomic for some chromosomes and trisomic for others. The 2s cells, selected both in vivo through growth as tumors in nude mice and in vitro in semisolid medium, appeared to have resulted from preferential duplication of certain chromosomes of the 1s cells. Our results therefore suggest that cells which develop multiple copies of selected genes, while remaining functionally hemizygous for other loci, acquire an enhanced anchorage-independent growth potential in vitro and increased tumorigenicity. This conclusion is consistent with the observation that cellular tumorigenicity is correlated with anchorage independence (Rreedman and Shin, 1974) and leads support to OHNO'S (1974) suggesting that aneuploidy is a possible means employed by cells to express recessive phenotypes and increase their tumorigenicity.     

A brain L-type calcium channel alpha 1 subunit gene (CCHL1A2) maps to mouse chromosome 14 and human chromosome 3.

A rat brain cDNA probe was used to localize a gene encoding the alpha 1 subunit of neuronal dihydropyridine-sensitive L-type calcium channels in the mouse and human genomes. Hybridization of the probe to Southern blots made with DNAs from a Chinese hamster x mouse somatic cell hybrid panel indicated that this gene maps to mouse chromosome 14 (Chr 14). Southern blot analysis of an intersubspecies cross demonstrated that the calcium channel alpha 1 subunit gene, termed Cchl1a2, can be positioned 7.5 cM proximal to Np-1. Similarly, segregation among human X rodent somatic cell hybrids indicated that CCHL1A2 maps to human chromosome 3. These assignments are consistent with a region of linkage homology between human chromosome 3p and a proximal region of mouse Chr 14.     

5-azacytidine-induced re-expression of alleles on the inactive X chromosome in a hybrid mouse cell line

In order to test the hypothesis that DNA methylation is involved in mammalian X chromosome inactivation, cells of an HPRT-deficient Mus musculus × M. caroli line, having an inactive M. caroli X, were grown in 5-azacytidine, and HPRT⁺ reactivants selected in HAT medium. Recovery of colonies depended on azacytidine concentration, and on time between treatment and selection; the highest recovery frequency was 0.3%. All colonies re-expressed the M. caroli form of HPRT, showing that the Hpt⁺ allele on the inactive M. caroli X was reactivated by azacytidine treatment. About 6% of HPRT⁺ reactivants also re-expressed M. caroli G6PD, whereas none of the 56 azacytidine-treated unselected colonies did so; thus re-expression of the Hpt and Gpd loci appears to be co-ordinated to some extent. However, no HPRT⁺ reactivants, nor unselected colonies re-expressed M. caroli PGK-A.     

A gene involved in control of human cellular senescence on human chromosome 1q.

Normal cells in culture exhibit limited division potential and have been used as a model for cellular senescence. In contrast, tumor-derived or carcinogen- or virus-transformed cells are capable of indefinite division. Fusion of normal human diploid fibroblasts with immortal human cells yielded hybrids having limited life spans, indicating that cellular senescence was dominant. Fusions of various immortal human cell lines with each other led to the identification of four complementation groups for indefinite division. The purpose of this study was to determine whether human chromosome 1 could complement the recessive immortal defect of human cell lines assigned to one of the four complementation groups. Using microcell fusion, we introduced a single normal human chromosome 1 into immortal human cell lines representing the complementation groups and determined that it caused loss of proliferative potential of an osteosarcoma-derived cell line (TE85), a cytomegalovirus-transformed lung fibroblast cell line (CMV-Mj-HEL-1), and a Ki-ras(+)-transformed derivative of TE85 (143B TK-), all of which were assigned to complementation group C. This chromosome 1 caused no change in proliferative potential of cell lines representing the other complementation groups. A derivative of human chromosome 1 that had lost most of the q arm by spontaneous deletion was unable to induce senescence in any of the immortal cell lines. This finding indicates that the q arm of human chromosome 1 carries a gene or set of genes which is altered in the cell lines assigned to complementation group C and is involved in the control of cellular senescence.     

Localization of the gene for interphotoreceptor retinoid-binding protein to mouse chromosome 14 near Np-1

Interphotoreceptor retinoid-binding protein (IRBP) is a large glycoprotein known to bind retinoids and found primarily in the interphotoreceptor matrix of the retina between the retinal pigment epithelium and the photoreceptor cells. It is thought to transport retinoids between the retinal pigment epithelium and the photoreceptors, a critical role in the visual process. We have used a 900-bp bovine IRBP cDNA fragment to map the corresponding gene, Rbp-3, to mouse chromosome 14 with somatic cell hybrids and have positioned the gene near Np-1 (nucleoside phosphorylase-1) by analysis of the progeny of an intersubspecific backcross. In the human genome, NP maps to human chromosome 14 and RBP3 to human chromosome 10. Thus, these two genes span the putative site of a chromosomal translocation which contributed to divergent karyotype evolution of man and mouse.     

An essential gene mutagenesis screen across the highly conserved piebald deletion region of mouse chromosome 14

The piebald deletion complex is a set of overlapping chromosomal deficiencies on distal mouse chromosome 14. We surveyed the functional genetic content of the piebald deletion region in an essential gene mutagenesis screen of 952 genomes to recover seven lethal mutants. The ENU‐induced mutations were mapped to define genetic intervals using the piebald deletion panel. Lethal mutations included loci required for establishment of the left‐right embryonic axis and a loss‐of‐function allele of Phr1 resulting in respiratory distress at birth. A functional map of the piebald region integrates experimental genetic data from the deletion panel, mutagenesis screen, and the targeted disruption of specific genes. A comparison of several genomic intervals targeted in regional mutagenesis screens suggests that the piebald region is characterized by a low gene density and high essential gene density with a distinct genomic content and organization that supports complex regulatory interactions and promotes evolutionary stability. genesis 47:392–403, 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

A mouse homeobox containing gene on chromosome 11: sequence and tissue-specific expression.

We have molecularly cloned a mouse homeobox containing gene by isolating cDNA and genomic clones. The gene is located in a previously described cluster on chromosome 11 (Hart et al. (1985) Cell 43, 9-18) and was identified as the Hox2.3 gene. We present the complete mRNA sequence of this gene and describe similarities to other homeobox containing genes, among which its human homologue, the cl gene. High expression of the Hox2.3 gene was found in kidney, testis, and spinal cord of adult mice, in the spinal cord of 12.5-17.5 day embryos and in differentiating EC cells depending on their treatment. Three different treatments of the pluripotent EC cell line P19, each leading to the induction of a specific differentiation pathway, resulted in all cases in induction of Hox2.3; however, major quantitative differences in this response were observed.     

Assignment of the gene for adenosine kinase to chromosome 14 in Mus musculus by somatic cell hybridization.

Evidence is presented for the assignment of the gene for adenosine kinase to Mus musculus chromosome 14 by synteny testing and karyotypic analysis of mouse X Chinese hamster somatic cell hybrid clones. ADOK and two enzymes previously mapped to mouse chromosome 14, NP and ES-10, were expressed concordantly in 29 hybrid clones. Chromosome analysis confirmed this assignment. Syntenic evidence is also presented using several clones of a gene transfer system in which the gene for human HPRT had integrated into modified mouse chromosome 14's.     

The 5-HT2 serotonin receptor gene Htr-2 is tightly linked to Es-10 on mouse chromosome 14.

Clones coding for the 5-HT2 serotonin receptor were isolated from rat brain cDNA libraries. Using one of the cDNA clones as the probe, mouse genomic DNAs from intersubspecific backcrosses were analyzed by Southern blot hybridization for a restriction fragment length polymorphism. The 5-HT2 serotonin receptor gene, Htr-2, was mapped to mouse Chromosome 14 and is closely linked with the marker Es-10.     

Linkage of the mouse LDL receptor gene on chromosome 9

We identified restriction fragment length variants of the mouse low-density lipoprotein receptor gene and used these to map the gene, designated Ldlr, to the proximal region of chromosome 9. An interspecific backcross between strains MEV and CAST/Ei yielded the following gene order and distances in centimorgans: Ldlr-18.8 +/- 5.6-Apoa-4-7.3 +/- 3.5-Mpi-1-10.2 +/- 3.9-Emv-3 or dilute. Analysis of recombinant inbred strains also indicated that Ldlr is tightly linked to a previously unmapped retroviral marker, Xmmv-67.     

Genetics of formamidase-5 (brain formamidase) in the mouse: Localization of the structural gene on chromosome 14

A single formamidase, which is different from the formamidases found in other tissues, occurs in the brains of mice. This enzyme is here called formamidase-5 and the gene symbol is designated For-5. Two alleles are recognized on the basis of their differential heat sensitivity: For-5 ^b is relatively heat stable and is present in strain C57BL/6J, while For-5 ^d is relatively heat sensitive and is present in strain DBA/2J. The heat sensitivity of formamidase-5 in 44 other inbred strains and substrains was tested and found to resemble that of C57BL/6J or DBA/2J. Thirty-six recombinant inbred strains derived from progenitors that differed at For-5 were studied to test for single-gene inheritance and linkage with other loci. Complete concordance was found with the esterase-10 locus (Es-10), indicating close linkage. The 99% upper confidence limit of the distance between For-5 and Es-10 is 3.7 centimorgans (cM). Es-10 is located on chromosome 14 about 19 cM from the centromere. An independent demonstration of linkage of For-5 with Es-10 and another chromosome 14 marker, hairless (hr), is provided by the finding that the HRS/J strain, which has been sibmated for 60 generations with forced heterozygosity at the hr locus, is cosegregating at For-5 and Es-10. A survey of 32 inbred strains and substrains revealed that the For-5 ^d allele is associated with the Es-10 ^b allele, and that the For-5 ^b allele is associated with Es-10 ^a and Es-10 ^c. Formamidase-5 segregates as expected in the F₂ generation of crosses between strains bearing For-5 ^b and For-5 ^d alleles. It is possible that this unique formamidase of the brain is involved in the metabolism of a neurotransmitter substance.This research was sponsored in part by the Department of Energy under contract with the Union Carbide Corporation and in part by NIH Research Grant GM-18684 from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences. J. C. F. is a predoctoral Fellow supported by Grant CA 09104 from the National Cancer Institute. The Biology Division of Oak Ridge National Laboratory and the Jackson Laboratory are fully accredited by the American Association for Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care.     

Genetic mapping of the gene for a novel tyrosine kinase, Blk, to mouse chromosome 14

The gene Blk, which encodes a novel tyrosine kinase expressed preferentially in B-lymphoid cells, was mapped by Southern blot analysis of DNA from the progeny of an intersubspecific backcross. Blk maps to the proximal region of chromosome 14 with the gene order centromere--(Np-1,Tcra)-Blk-sys-Es-10.