Two pathways for GM2(NeuGc) expression in mice: genetic analysis.
We have reported that WHT/Ht mice express neither GM2(NeuGc) nor GM1(NeuGc) in the liver or erythrocytes due to a defect on the Ggm-2 gene, which was demonstrated to control the activity of UDP-GalNAc:GM3(NeuGc) N-acetylgalactosaminyltransferase in mouse liver, and, in addition, WHT/Ht mice do not express a detectable amount of GM2(NeuGc) but do express GM1(NeuGc) in tissues other than the liver and erythrocytes, such as the spleen, thymus, heart, lung, kidney, and testis [Nakamura et al. (1988) J. Biochem. 103, 201-208]. In order to determine whether the phenotype of WHT/Ht mice exhibiting an undetectable amount of GM2(NeuGc) in these tissues is genetically controlled or not, we analyzed the expression of gangliosides in the progeny obtained on backcross mating between (BALB/c X WHT/Ht)F1 and WHT/Ht mice, and in a GM2(NeuGc) congenic mouse, WHT.C. Concerning the expression of GM2(NeuGc) in the liver, lung, and kidney, 102 backcross mice could be segregated into two types. One type expressed a detectable amount of GM2(NeuGc) in the liver, lung, and kidney, and the other type did not. The ratio of the numbers of mice exhibiting these two types was 42: 60, indicating that the two phenotypes were genetically determined by the involvement of a single autosomal gene. Recombination as to GM2(NeuGc) expression in the liver, lung, and kidney was not detected among the 102 backcross mice. Analysis of the GM2(NeuGc) congenic mouse indicated that a detectable amount of GM2(NeuGc) was expressed in the liver, erythrocytes, lung, kidney, heart, spleen, and small intestine.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Kono
M
M
Department of Membrane Biochemistry, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science.
Sekine
M
M
Nakamura
K
K
Hashimoto
Y
Y
Seyama
Y
Y
Yamakawa
T
T
Suzuki
A
A
D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism; D003433:Crosses, Genetic; D005260:Female; D005678:G(M2) Ganglioside / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D015870:Gene Expression; D007668:Kidney / Q000378:metabolism; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism; D008168:Lung / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008811:Mice, Inbred DBA; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D014018:Tissue Distribution
D005678:G(M2) Ganglioside