High-resolution mapping and recombination interval analysis of mouse chromosome 17.

Analysis of homologous recombination in eukaryotes has shown that some meiotic crossing-over occurs preferentially at specific genomic sites of limited physical distance called recombinational hotspots. In the mouse, recombinational hotspots have only been defined in the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) on chromosome (Chr) 17. In an attempt to examine whether hotspots are unique to the MHC or are present throughout the genome, high-resolution linkage maps of Chr 17 based on five backcrosses involving different inbred strains have been generated. These maps separate many markers that were previously shown at the same map position and allow a detailed analysis of recombination patterns across Chr 17. Corresponding recombination intervals in these maps have been compared for the identification of intervals with very little or no recombination in certain genetic crosses and considerable recombination in other genetic crosses. This approach has been termed Recombination Interval Analysis. Possible haplotype-dependent non-MHC hotspots, as well as previously identified MHC hotspots, have been detected by interval analysis.

An intron capture strategy used to identify and map a lysyl oxidase-like gene on chromosome 9 in the mouse.

An intron capture strategy involving use of polymerase chain reaction was used to identify and map the mouse homologue of a human lysyl oxidase-like gene (LOXL). Oligonucleotides complementary to conserved domains within exons 4 and 5 of the human lysyl oxidase-like gene were used to amplify the corresponding segment from mouse genomic DNA. Sequencing of the resulting mouse DNA fragment of approximately 1 kb revealed that the exon sequences at the ends of the amplified fragment are highly homologous (90% nucleotide identity) to exons 4 and 5 of the human lysyl oxidase-like gene. An AluI restriction site polymorphism within intron 4 was used to map the mouse lysyl oxidase-like gene (Loxl) to mouse Chromosome 9 in a region that shares linkage conservation with human chromosome 15q24, to which the LOXL was recently mapped.

Effect of the mouse scid mutation on meiotic recombination.

The goal of this study was to determine the effect of the mouse severe combined immunodeficiency (scid) mutation on the rate of meiotic recombination, by standard backcross linkage analysis. For this purpose, we examined four crosses that involved F1 hybrid animals heterozygous for the strain C57BL/6 and BALB/c genomes. In one set of reciprocal crosses, F1 animals were homozygous scid/scid, and in a second set of reciprocal crosses, F1 mice were homozygous wild-type (+/+) at the scid locus. Backcross progeny were typed for recombination between selected genetic markers on mouse Chromosomes (Chrs) 1, 4, 6, 7, 9, 15, and 17. Although some differences in recombination were observed over some intervals, the expression of the SCID phenotype did not appear to have a major or consistent effect on meiotic recombination.

Ea recombinational hot spot in the mouse major histocompatibility complex maps to the fourth intron of the Ea gene.

The majority of recombination events detected within the mouse major histocompatibility complex (MHC) fall into regions of limited physical distance known as hot spots of meiotic recombination. The hot spot associated with the Ea gene appears to be active only in the presence of the p allele carried by the intra-MHC recombinant strain BIO.F(13R). To study the frequency, regulation, and haplotype specificity of recombination at the Ea hot spot, progeny from three different backcrosses involving BIO.F(13R) were screened for recombination events across the MHC using DNA microsatellite markers. Screening of a total of 750 backcross progeny permitted the identification of seven recombinants within the Ea gene. Using restriction site polymorphisms, and sequence-based nucleotide polymorphisms, the recombination breakpoints in all seven Ea recombinants were mapped to two adjacent segments of 71 bp and 346 bp in intron 4 of the Ea gene.

Use of an intron polymorphism to localize the tropoelastin gene to mouse chromosome 5 in a region of linkage conservation with human chromosome 7.

The complete coding sequence for mouse tropoelastin was obtained from overlapping reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplimers. These cDNA fragments were derived from mouse tropoelastin mRNA using PCR oligomers complementary to conserved domains within rat tropoelastin mRNA. A comparison of coding domains of mouse and rat tropoelastin mRNA revealed a greater than 93% homology at the nucleotide level and over 96% similarity in the predicted amino acid sequence. PCR primers complementary to regions of the mouse tropoelastin mRNA were used to define a novel intron length polymorphism (ILP) within intron 8 of the mouse tropoelastin gene (Eln). This ILP proved to be informative in an interspecific backcross in which genomic DNA samples from 75 backcross mice were used to map the tropoelastin gene to a position in the distal half of mouse chromosome 5. The linkage and genetic distances between Eln and the closest molecular markers used in this study are centromere-D5Mit95, D5Mit96-6.7 cM-Gus, Eln-4.0 cM-Zp3-telomere.

Analysis of recombinational hot spots associated with the p haplotype of the mouse MHC.

Most of the recombination events detected within the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) of the mouse fall into areas of limited physical size that have been designated recombinational hot spots. One of these hot spots, associated with the Ea gene, appears to be active only in the presence of the p haplotype of the MHC. To study the regulation of the Ea recombinational hot spot and its haplotype specificity, a high-resolution comparative map of the MHC and adjacent regions was completed in four different backcrosses carrying the p haplotype. This mapping study utilized a total of 29 PCR-based molecular markers, including 7 newly developed markers spanning the region between Pim1 and D17Mit11 on Chromosome 17. The analysis of a total of 1093 backcross animals: (1) revealed that the presence of the p haplotype of the MHC is not sufficient to induce recombination at the Ea hot spot in a dominant manner, and (2) resulted in the definition of a new intra-MHC recombinational hot spot between the Tnfb and the H2-D genes.

Evidence that nucleotide sequence identity is a requirement for meiotic crossing over within the mouse Eb recombinational hot spot.

Meiotic recombination in the mouse is sometimes restricted to specific chromosomal sites. For example, when recombinants within the I region of the mouse major histocompatibility complex (MHC) are examined, the breakpoints between standard alleles can usually be mapped to the Eb gene. DNA sequence analysis of five cases of meiotic crossing over associated with this gene suggests that the recombinational hot spot may be confined to large regions of nucleotide identity located within the second intron of the Eb gene.

Multiple sites of crossing over within the Eb recombinational hotspot in the mouse.

The Eb gene of the mouse major histocompatibility complex (MHC) contains a well-documented hotspot of recombination. Twelve cases of intra-Eb recombination derived from the b, d, k and s alleles of the Eb gene were sequenced to more precisely position the sites of meiotic recombination. This analysis was based on positioning recombination breakpoints between nucleotide polymorphisms found in the sequences of parental haplotypes. All twelve cases of recombination mapped within the second intron of the Eb gene. Six of these recombinants, involving the k and s haplotypes, mapped to two adjoining DNA segments of 394 and 955 base pairs (bp) in the 3' half of the intron. In an additional two cases derived by crossing over between the d and s alleles, breakpoints were positioned to adjoining segments of 28 and 433 bp, also in the 3' half of the intron. Finally, four b versus k recombinants were mapped to non-contiguous segments of DNA covering 2.9 kb and 1005 bp of the intron. An analysis of the map positions of crossover breakpoints defined in this study suggests that the second intron of the Eb gene contains a recombinational hotspot of approximately 800-1000 bp which contains at least two closely linked recombinationally active sites or segments. Further examination of the sequence data also suggests that the postulated location for the recombinational hotspot corresponds almost precisely to an 812 bp sequence that shows nucleotide sequence similarity to the MT family of middle repetitive DNA.

Structural and genetic properties of the Eb recombinational hotspot in the mouse.

The Eb gene of the mouse contains a recombinational hotspot which plays a predominant role in meiotic crossing-over within the I region of the mouse major histocompatibility complex (MHC). The nucleotide sequences of five recombinants derived from H-2k/H-2b heterozygotes at the Eb locus placed the sites of recombination in each recombinant haplotype within a 2.9 kilobase (kb) segment located fully within the second intron of the Eb gene. Further resolution of the crossover sites was not possible since the nucleotide sequences of the parental and recombinant haplotypes are identical within this segment. The molecular characterization of these five recombinants considered in conjunction with three previously reported intra-Eb recombinants indicates that there are at least two distinct sites of recombination within the Eb recombinational hotspot. In a related study, an examination of the nucleotide sequence of the H-2p allele of the Eb gene revealed a major genetic rearrangement in the 5' half of the intron in this haplotype. A 597 base pair (bp) nucleotide sequence found in the H-2p haplotype is replaced by a 1634 bp segment found in the H-2b and H-2k haplotypes. Sequence analysis of this 1634 bp segment shows strong nucleotide sequence similarity to retroposon long terminal repeat (LTR), env, and pol genes indicating that this segment of the second intron has evolved through retroposon insertion. The location of these retroposon sequences within the 2.9 kb recombination segment defined by the five H-2k/H-2b recombinant haplotypes suggests a possible relationship between these retroviral elements and site-specific recombination within the second intron of the Eb gene.

The E beta hot spot of recombination in wild-derived natural recombinant MHC haplotypes. Cross-over site mapping and the identification of a 1.0-kb E beta deletion in the p and w14 haplotypes.

Detailed molecular analysis of three wild-derived MHC haplotypes provided evidence for an important role of the E beta recombinational hot spot in the recent evolution of the mouse I region. Examination of RFLP and restriction maps of cloned DNA permitted the mapping of the natural cross-over events in the haplotypes carried by strains B10.GAA37 (w21) and B10.KPB128 (w19) to a fragment of DNA not exceeding 4.1 kb, which lies almost entirely within the intron separating the beta 1 and beta 2 exons of the E beta gene. In the w14 haplotype (strain B10.STC77), which appears to be a natural recombinant between a p-like parental haplotype and another wild-derived haplotype, the site of crossing over can be mapped to a segment between the beta 2 exon of the E beta gene (left border) and the E beta 2 gene (right border). This segment containing the cross-over site in the w14 haplotype includes the E beta hot spot. In addition, the w14 haplotype as well as the standard p haplotype contain a deletion of approximately 1.0 kb in the second intron of the E beta gene, which may represent the product of an unequal cross-over event in a E beta recombinational hot spot.

Molecular characterization of meiotic recombination within the major histocompatibility complex of the mouse: mapping of crossover sites within the I region.

The molecular analysis of crossing-over within the mouse major histocompatibility complex provides a useful approach for the study of the structural characteristics of meiotic recombination. In this study five intra-I-region recombinants, each derived from Ik/Ib heterozygotes, were characterized for restriction-fragment length polymorphisms (RFLPs) characteristic of the I region of the two parental strains. Southern blot analysis of intra-I recombinant strains A.TBR2, A.TBR3, A.TBR5, A.TBR13, and A.TBR17 using six I-region DNA probes revealed that the point of crossing-over in all five recombinants occurred within a 6.2-kb KpnI-EcoRI segment located within the E beta gene. The segments of DNA containing the crossover point from each of the recombinant chromosomes were cloned by screening partial genomic libraries constructed in lambda gt7 bacteriophage. Construction of partial restriction maps of the cloned segments from the parental and recombinant chromosomes permitted the boundaries of the area containing the crossover site to be narrowed to a 4.0-kb segment located almost entirely within an intron of the E beta gene. The recognition that the points of crossing-over in all five recombinants studied are clustered in a relatively small area of the I region provides further evidence for a hot spot of recombination associated with the E beta gene.

Hymenolepis microstoma: mouse strain differences in resistance to a challenge infection.

Antibody responses and host resistance to the tapeworm, Hymenolepis microstoma, were investigated using AKR/J and C3HeB/FeJ strains of mice. AKR mice were significantly more resistant than controls to a secondary infection following exposure to a 3-, 21-, or 40-day primary infection. During a primary infection, intestinal anti-worm antibody responses measured by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay were elevated in the more resistant AKR strain, whereas serum antibody titers did not differ between the two strains. However, during a secondary infection, serum IgA titers were higher in AKR mice than C3H mice. Suppression of the serum IgA anti-worm response by oral administration of lipopolysaccharide also suppressed resistance to a secondary infection. Intraperitoneal immunization with worm antigen resulted in a minor degree of protection in AKR mice. This protection was associated with increased intestinal antibody titers compared to mice not demonstrating protection. These results suggest that the protective responses observed in AKR mice relative to C3H mice reflect differences in mucosal antibody responses to H.

Delineation of Ia:nominal antigen complementary determinants recognized by T cells in studies of gene complementation in response to insulin.

The immune response to beef insulin in mice is controlled by genes in the IA subregion. We have previously shown that B6.C-H-2bm12 (bm12) mice, an A beta gene mutation of B6, have a selective loss of responsiveness to beef insulin, whereas other IAb controlled responses such as (TG)AL and collagen are unchanged. F1 hybrid mice between two nonresponder genotypes Ik and Ibm12 were found to be good responders to beef insulin suggesting functional complementation. In this report, we define the cellular and molecular basis of this complementation by investigating the determinants on Ia molecules and nominal antigen that are recognized by (B10.A X bm12)F1 proliferating T cells. Genetic analyses demonstrated that the Ik region was the only nonresponder genotype that complemented Ibm12, thus restoring responsiveness to beef insulin. More precisely an IAk and not an IEk gene product was found to be responsible for this complementation. Antibody blocking studies furthermore showed that the A alpha b:A beta k hybrid Ia mediated the response to beef insulin in (B10.A X bm12)F1 mice. Clonal analyses of the response to beef insulin in these F1 mice confirmed these conclusions, because the insulin-specific response in all 21 F1-T cell clones studied thus far was found to be dependent upon presentation via the A alpha b:A beta k hybrid Ia molecule. Dissection of the antigenic specificity of the F1-T cell clones demonstrated recognition of at least two insulin determinants, one A-loop (A8-A10) associated and the other non-loop (A4 or B chain) associated. Therefore these studies identify the molecular and antigenic basis of the Ir gene complementation seen in the response to beef insulin of (B10.A X bm12)F1 hybrids.

A newly defined murine alloantigen controlled by the S region of the H-2 complex: molecular association with the fourth component of complement.

A previous study has shown that prolonged immunization of strain A.TBR16 mice (H-2 haplotype at16) with lymphoid tissue derived from A.TBR13 (at13) donors results in an antiserum that defines a new H-2-associated allotype with a strain distribution antithetical to H-2.7. The present report describes a sensitive ELISA that demonstrated that this specificity represents an allotypic determinant(s) on the fourth component of complement (C4). Studies with Sephadex G-200 fractionated plasma and serum proteins suggest that, as is the case for H-2.7, the new specificity appears to reside on the C4d fragment after C activation. We therefore propose the tentative nomenclature C4d.2 for this specificity and suggest revision of the nomenclature for H-2.7 to C4d.1. Also described in this report is the formal mapping of the genetic control of the C4d.2 allotype to the H-2S region.

An erythrocyte and serum antigen with a specificity antithetical to the mouse C4 associated H-2.7 antigen.

Repeated immunization of intra-H-2 recombinant strain A.TBR16 with lymphoid tissue from strain A.TBR13 produced an antiserum that agglutinated the erythrocytes from inbred strains of mice carrying the b, d, r, q, u, wr7, w13, w17, w19, and w21 haplotypes of the H-2 complex. The antiserum was negative with erythrocytes of strains carrying the haplotypes f, j, k, p, and s. This pattern of reactivity among fifteen H-2 haplotypes is unlike the strain distribution for any known H-2 erythrocyte antigen, and is exactly antithetical to the S region-controlled H-2.7 antigen. An examination of 12 intra-H-2 recombinant haplotypes mapped the genetic determinant controlling the new antigen to the IC or S regions of the H-2 complex. In addition, hemagglutination inhibition studies revealed the antigen was also expressed in serum and plasma. The serologic, genetic, and tissue distribution data suggest the gene controlling the newly defined antigen is allelic to the gene controlling the H-2.7 antigen.