High-resolution mapping of a linkage group on mouse chromosome 8 conserved on human chromosome 16Q.

We have performed a high-resolution linkage analysis for the conserved segment on distal mouse Chromosome (Chr) 8 that is homologous to human Chr 16q. The interspecific backcross used involved M. m. molossinus and an M. m. domesticus line congenic for an M. spretus segment from Chr 8 flanked by phenotypic markers Os (oligosyndactyly) and e, a coat colormarker. From a total of 682 N2 progeny, the 191 animals revealing a recombination event between these phenotypic markers were typed for 23 internal loci. The following locus order with distances in cM was obtained: (centromere)-Os-4.1-Mmp2-0.2-Ces1,Es1, Es22-1.2-Mt1,D8Mit15-2.2-Got2, D8Mit11-3.7-Es30-0.3-Es2, Es7-0.9-Ctra1,Lcat-0.3-Cdh1, Cadp, Nmor1, D8Mit12-0.2-Mov34-2.5-Hp,Tat-0.2-Zfp4-1.6-Zfp1,+ ++Ctrb-10.9-e. In a separate interspecific cross involving 62 meioses, Dpep1 was mapped together with Aprt and Cdh3 at 12.9 cM distal to Hp, Tat, to the vicinity of e. Our data give locus order for markers not previously resolved, add Mmp2 and Dpep1 as new markers on mouse Chr 8, and indicate that Ctra1 is the mouse homolog for human CTRL. Comparison of the order of 17 mouse loci with that of their human homologs reveals that locus order is well conserved and that the conserved segment in the human apparently spans the whole long arm of Chr 16.

Oocytes from pachytene to dictyotene can easily be analysed in neonatal rodents.

We have investigated the dynamics of meiotic prophase I in neonatal ovaries from different wild rodent species, from a laboratory strain of Mus musculus and from Mus musculus x Mus spretus F1 hybrids. We found that almost all stages of prophase I were regularly present in neonatal ovaries from these species and that their transcriptional activity can be assessed by [3H]-uridine incorporation, indicating that postnatal analysis of meiotic chromosomes and synapsis may be conducted as an alternative to the investigation of foetal ovaries.

Esterase-30 (ES-30) of the house mouse: biochemical characterization and genetics of a new carboxylesterase isozyme linked to cluster-2 loci on chromosome 8.

A new carboxylesterase isozyme (EC 3.1.1.1), designated ES-30, is described in mouse liver. Two phenotypes were distinguished, ES-30A, a possible null type, was found in SPE/Pas and in other lines derived from Mus spretus, and ES-30B was found in BALB/cJ and other laboratory inbred strains. ES-30B is characterized by a distinct electrophoretic band when stained using 5-bromoindoxyl acetate as the substrate. After isolation and purification from other esterases by ion-exchange chromatography and molecular sieving, the molecular mass was estimated by two independent methods to be 62 and 64 kDa, respectively. The activity of ES-30B is higher in adult males than in females and can be stimulated in vivo by testosterone. The distribution of phenotypes on the progeny of a backcross series suggests a separate locus, Es-30, with the allele a for absence and b for presence of the isozyme. Locus Es-30 is shown to be closely linked to Es-2 and to Es-7 of cluster-2 on chromosome 8. The gene order Es-9--Got-2--(Es-2, Es-7, Es-30) is suggested.

Genetically defined lysosomal acetylesterase EC 3.1.1.6 in the cauda epididymidis of mouse, rat, and man.

After inhibition by bis-p-nitrophenyl phosphate and subsequent staining for esterase using naphthol AS-D acetate as the substrate, a strong lysosomal esterase was demonstrated in the cauda epididymidis of mouse, rat, and man. Owing to its behaviour towards the classifying inhibitors eserine, diisopropyl fluorophosphate, bis-p-nitrophenyl phosphate, and p-chloromercuriphenylsulphonate, this lysosomal esterase was shown to be an acetylesterase (EC 3.1.1.6). Control experiments involving isoelectric focusing revealed that this acetylesterase was identical with the genetically defined homologues ES-17, ES-6, and ES-A4 in mouse, rat, and man, respectively.

Gene order and genetic distance of 13 loci spanning murine chromosome 15.

Thirteen genetic loci spanning murine chromosome 15 from 15A2 (Mlvi-2) to 15F2-3 (Gdc-1) have been mapped. The genetic distance extends to 55.4 cM. Among 151 animals, only 1 animal with a double cross-over was found. The linear order is unambiguous, with the exception of the distal end on 15F1-3. Our analysis favors the order cen-Ela-1/Hox-3-Wnt-1-Gdc-1-ter. This ordering makes necessary the introduction of three tightly spaced double recombination events around and within the Hox-3 locus. Alternatively, Hox-3 may be most distal, and several double recombinations at the telomere lead to map expansion. Despite the unequal distribution along chromosome 15 of G-versus R-bands, a comparison of distances determined by physical and genetic mapping does not indicate an overt difference in distance between both mapping techniques.

Esterase-29 (ES-29): biochemical characterization and control by two independent gene loci of a testosterone-dependent mouse serum esterase.

Biochemistry and genetics of a testosterone-dependent murine serum esterase designated esterase-29 (ES-29) are described. The enzyme was identified after disc electrophoresis and subsequent staining for esterase using alpha-naphthyl acetate as the substrate. It was inhibited by bis-p-nitrophenyl phosphate and was resistant to p-chlorophenylsulphonate and hence was classified as carboxylesterase EC3.1.1.1. The molecular mass was estimated to be about 130 kDa. It was shown that ES-29 is under the control of two independent genes. The first, termed Es-29, is suggested to be a structural locus, linked to the cluster-2 esterase loci on chromosome 8. Three alleles at Es-29, Es-29a, Es-29b, and Es-29c are distinguished, which determine absence (SEG/1), strong activity (BALB/cJ), and low activity (MOLH/Fre), respectively. The second locus, termed Mse-1 (serum esterase modifying factor), was found to be closely linked to Pre-2 on chromosome 12 and is suggested to be a modifying or regulatory gene. Two alleles were distinguished, Mse-1a (BALB/cJ) and Mse-1m (MOL3/JA, Cas-Bgr), which determine whether ES-29 appears as a single band or a double band, respectively. Mse-1m is dominant to Mse-1a.

Genetic and biochemical characterization of a new chymotrypsin isozyme of the house mouse, CTRA-1.

Genetic variation of a codominantly inherited pancreas protease, designated CTRA-1, was discovered in the house mouse by isoelectric focusing in polyacrylamide gels. Phenotype CTRA-1A was found in MOLH/Fre and in the majority of common laboratory mouse strains. Phenotype CTRA-1B was found in PWD/Ph. It was characterized by the absence of a corresponding protease band. A third phenotype, CTRA-1C, was observed in IS/Cam and a fourth phenotype, CTRA-1D, was detected in SEG/1. CTRA-1 was found only in the pancreas and may represent the A form of chymotrypsin. The enzyme was shown to be controlled by the presumed structural locus Ctra-1 located on chromosome 8. From two backcross series, including a total of 274 animals, the gene order (Es-1, Es-9)-3.9 +/- 1.7%-Got-2-3.9 +/- 1.7%-(Es-2, Es-7, Es-23)-0.7 +/- 0.5%- Ctra-1-6.3 +/- 2.2%-Prt-2 was established.

Demonstration of murine pancreas elastase and its interstrain variation by isoelectric focusing.

Isoelectric focusing between pH 9 and 11 was used for separation of murine pancreas proteases. One of these proteases is characterized by its preference for N-acetyl-L-alanine-alpha-naphthylester as substrate and by its genetic linkage to bt, a coat color marker of chromosome 15. This protease was identified as elastase, and is probably elastase-1 (ELA-1). Because of the simple procedure and the excellent reproducibility of the focusing pattern, ELA-1 is recommended as a useful marker for mouse chromosome 15.

Biochemical and genetic characterization of esterase-27 (ES-27), the major plasma cholinesterase of the house mouse (Mus musculus).

Esterase-27A (ES-27A) was characterized in strain A/WySnA by a cascade of seven bands seen after disc electrophoresis of serum and subsequent staining for esterase. ES-27A catalyses the hydrolysis of thiocholine butyrate and is strongly inhibited by 100 microM tetraisopropyl pyrophosphamide (isoOMPA). Hence, the enzyme was concluded to be a cholinesterase EC 3.1.1.8. A heat-labile form termed ES-27B was represented by strain AKR/Han. From a three-point cross (AKR/Han, A/Wy) and a five-point cross (AKR/Han, SEG/1), the gene order on chromosome 3 was concluded to be centromere-Car-2-Es-26-Es-27-Amy-1-Adh-1.

Genetic characterization of esterase 28 (ES-28) of the house mouse.

The genetics of esterase-28, the major esterase of cauda epididymidis of the house mouse, has been studied after separation by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and isoelectric focusing. Four phenotypes are distinguished. Segregation of Es-28 in two backcross series indicated linkage to Es-1, Es-9, and Es-22. The Es-28 locus was placed into esterase cluster 1 on chromosome 8.

The recombinant congenic strains--a novel genetic tool applied to the study of colon tumor development in the mouse.

The development of tumors in mice is under multigenic control, but, in spite of considerable efforts, the identification of the genes involved has so far been unsuccessful, because of the insufficient resolution power of the available genetic tools. Therefore, a novel genetic tool, the RC (Recombinant Congenic) strains system, was designed. In this system, a series of RC strains is produced from two inbred strains, a "background" strain and a "donor" strain. Each RC strain contains a different small subset of genes from the donor strain and the majority of genes from the background strain. As a consequence, the individual genes of the donor strain which are involved in the genetic control of a multigenic trait, become separated into different RC strains, where they can be identified and studied individually. One of the RC strains series which we produced is made from the parental strains BALB/cHeA (background strain) and STS/A (donor strain). We describe the genetic composition of this BALB/cHeA-C-STS/A (CcS/Dem) series and show, using 45 genetic autosomal markers, that it does not deviate from the theoretical expectation. We studied the usefulness of the CcS/Dem RC strains for analysis of the genetics of colon tumor development. The two parental strains, BALB/cHeA and STS/A, are relatively resistant and highly susceptible, respectively, to the induction of colon tumors by 1,2-dimethylhydrazine (DMH). The individual RC strains differ widely in colon tumor development after DMH treatment; some are highly susceptible, while others are very resistant. This indicates that a limited number of genes with a major effect are responsible for the high susceptibility of the STS strain. Consequently, these genes can be mapped by further analysis of the susceptible RC strains. The differences between the RC strains were not limited to the number of tumors, but the RC strains differed also in size of the tumors and the relative susceptibility of the two sexes. Our data indicate that the number of tumors and the size of tumors are not controlled by the same genes. The genetics of these different aspects of colon tumorigenesis can also be studied by the RC strains. The DMH-treated mice of the parental strains and the RC strains also developed anal tumors and haemangiomas in varying numbers. The strain distribution pattern (SDP) of susceptibility for each of the three types of tumors induced by DMH is different, indicating that development of these tumors is under control of different, largely non-overlapping, sets of genes.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

[Variability of clinical symptoms in neuronal intestinal dysplasia]. / Variabilität klinischer Symptome bei neuronaler intestinaler Dysplasie.

Neuronal intestinal dysplasia is defined as a structural disorder of the innervation of the gut which clinically resembles Hirschsprung's disease. Between 1977 and 1988 12 patients were diagnosed by enzyme histochemistry. In 3 of these patients Hirschsprung's disease was associated. Constipation was the main symptom in 6 patients with neuronal intestinal disease and in all three patients with associated Hirschsprung's disease. The other patients firstly presented with an enterocolitis, a congenital atresia of the jejunum and a chronic enteritis with malabsorption. The wide clinical variability and the lack of a clear therapeutic management valid for all patients is conspicuous.

Genetic variation and biochemical properties of esterase-18 (ES-18) in the laboratory rat (Rattus norvegicus): a new locus of esterase cluster 2 in linkage group V.

A new liver-specific rat carboxylesterase isozyme (EC 3.1.1.1) designated esterase-18 (ES-18) is described. Genetic variation of ES-18 was examined in 93 inbred strains and substrains and a structural locus Es-18 was suggested, coding for either the presence (Es-18a) or the absence (Es-18b) of the isozyme. Linkage studies involving two backcross series revealed that Es-18 resides in cluster 2 of LGV. No recombination between Es-18 and other cluster 2 loci was found in 19 lines of two RI strain sets or in the backcross series.

The occurrence of beta-glucuronidase in erythrocyte inclusions.

This study presents erythrocytic inclusion bodies exhibiting histochemically a strong beta-glucuronidase activity. The unique occurrence of this enzyme in cells of the erythropoietic series has never been described before and characterizes a novel type of erythrocyte inclusions mainly observed in patients suffering from liver damage but also from myelodysplasia and congenital dyserythropoietic anemia type I. Since it is known that hepatocytes contain high activities of beta-glucuronidase, we supposed a relationship between an increased breakdown of liver cells and the appearance of beta-glucuronidase positive inclusions in the red cells. To prove this hypothesis, we determined the beta-glucuronidase plasma levels of 99 unselected patients suffering from various liver disorders in comparison with 19 healthy controls by use of the umbelliferone technique. Our results indicate that in cases with liver diseases beta-glucuronidase plasma levels are significantly increased as compared with normal persons. The availability of a sufficient amount of beta-glucuronidase, thus, seems to be one prerequisite for the appearance of these inclusions in erythrocytes. As demonstrated by our investigations on congenital dyserythropoietic anemia, in which the red cells also show beta-glucuronidase positive inclusions, another premise seems to be an elevated autophagolysosomal activity in the erythrocytes.

Genetic identification of non-specific esterases of the mouse cauda epididymidis and description of esterase-28, a new carboxylesterase isoenzyme (EC 3.1.1.1).

Twenty-five (25) electrophoretic bands with esterase activity were distinguished in supernatants of cauda epididymidis of DBA/2J mice. Twenty (20) of these were assigned to 10 genetically defined esterases (ES-1, ES-2, ES-3, ES-6, ES-7, ES-11, ES-14, ES-17, ES-19, ES-22) which were already known from investigations of other mouse tissues. Furthermore, ES-10 was identified in cauda supernatants after isoelectric focussing. A hitherto genetically undefined esterase was assigned to locus Es-28 which was expressed solely in the epididymis. Three phenotypes were distinguished: ES-28A was present in the majority of the inbred strains examined. ES-28B was observed in AKR/Han mice and ES-28C was found in SEG/1 mice.

Gene mapping on mouse chromosome 8 by interspecific crosses: new data on a linkage group conserved on human chromosome 16q.

A large conserved linkage group exists on mouse chromosome 8 and human chromosome 16q, including the loci for chymotrypsinogen B (Ctrb), haptoglobin (Hp), lecithin:cholesterol acyltransferase (Lcat), metallothionein-1,-2 (Mt-1,-2), tyrosine aminotransferase (Tat), and uvomorulin (Um). Using cloned gene probes, these six loci were mapped in M. m. domesticus X M. spretus interspecific crosses relative to a number of chromosome 8 anchor loci resulting in the gene order Es-1,Es-9-Mt-1,-2-Got-2-Es-2,Es-7,Lcat,Um-Hp,Tat,Ctrb-e. These results complement earlier studies and redefine the conserved segment on mouse chromosome 8, previously defined by the Hp-Tat interval, by the 24-cM interval between Mt-1,-2 and the conserved locus for adenine phosphoribosyltransferase, Aprt, mapped at 25 cM from Es-1 by T. B. Nesterova, P. M. Borodin, S. M. Zakian, and O. L. Serov (1987, Biochem. Genet. 25: 563-568). Within this segment, the gene order appears the same in man and mouse. While map distances between HP-TAT,HP-CTRB, and TAT-CTRB of respectively 7, 11, and 9 cM have previously been measured in man, no crossovers between Hp, Tat, and Ctrb were observed in over 100 meioses in the mouse.

Esterase-16 (ES-16) of the rat (Rattus norvegicus): identification and genetic characterization.

Esterase-16, an esterase present in lung and other tissues of the laboratory rat, has been characterized by its biochemical properties (electrophoretic mobility, substrate pattern, sensitivity to inhibitors) and genetic variation in 107 inbred strains and substrains including 14 RI strains. It was classified as a carboxylesterase (EC 3.1.1.1). The phenotype ES-16A (BN/Han and 63 other strains) was defined as a narrow electrophoretic band migrating between ES-1A and ES-13A, ES-16B (LEW/Han and 42 other strains) exhibited the same electrophoretic mobility as ES-16A but was distinguished by its extremely weak activity. Segregation of ES-16 in RI strains and backcrosses indicated linkage to linkage group V (LGV). The Es-16 locus was tentatively placed into esterase cluster 2 and homology with Es-7 of the house mouse is proposed.

Esterase-18 (ES-18) of the house mouse (Mus musculus): biochemical characterization and genetics of an allozyme system linked to chromosome 19.

This study describes the biochemical characterization, genetic variation, and linkage of a codominantly inherited murine esterase, termed ES-18. The enzyme was identified by isoelectric focusing of supernatants obtained after centrifugation of tissue homogenates and subsequent staining for esterase using either alpha-naphthyl acetate or 4-methylumbelliferyl elaidate as substrate. ES-18 exhibited an organ-specific variation of the intensity pattern of bands as seen in kidney, spleen, and macrophages, respectively. Its activity was highly sensitive to inhibition by 1 mmol.liter-1 p-chloromercuriphenylsulfonate but was resistant to bis-p-nitrophenyl phosphate. Four allozymes could be distinguished in kidney supernatants obtained from the inbred strains C57BL/10Sn (ES-18A), MOLF/Ei (ES-18B), WLL/BrA (ES-18C), and CAST/Ei (ES-18D). The enzyme is shown to be controlled by a structural locus, Es-18, which resides on chromosome 19. The gene order Ly-1 - Got-1 - 4.7 +/- 1.6 - Es-18 is suggested.