DNA insertions distinguish the duplicated renin genes of DBA/2 andM. hortulanus mice

In a survey of inbred and wild mouse DNAs for genetic variation at the duplicate renin loci,Ren-1 andRen-2, a variantNot I hybridization pattern was observed in the wild mouseM. hortulanus. To determine the basis for this variation, the structure of theM. hortulanus renin loci has been examined in detail and compared to that of the inbred strain DBA/2. Overall, the gross features of structure in this chromosomal region are conserved in bothMus species. In particular, the sequence at the recombination site between the linkedRen-1 andRen-2 loci was found to be identical in both DBA/2 andM. hortulanus, indicating that the renin gene duplication occurred prior to the divergence of ancestors of these mice. Renin flanking sequences inM. hortulanus, however, were found to lack four DNA insertions totaling approximately 10.5 kb which reside near the DBA/2 loci. The postduplication evolution of the mouse renin genes in thus characterized by a number of insertion and/or deletion events within nearby flanking sequences. Analysis of renin expression showed little or no difference between these mice in steady state renin RNA levels in most tissues examined, suggesting that these insertions do not influence expression at those sites. A notable exception is the adrenal gland, in which DBA/2 andM. hortulanus mice exhibit different patterns of developmentally regulated renin expression.