Mice with a null mutation of the TGF alpha gene have abnormal skin architecture, wavy hair, and curly whiskers and often develop corneal inflammation.
Mice homozygous for a disrupted transforming growth factor alpha (TGF alpha) gene are healthy and fertile, although some older mice show evidence of corneal inflammation. In contrast with TGF alpha +/- and +/+ animals, TGF alpha -/- mice have a pronounced waviness of the coat. Histological examination of the skin from TGF alpha -/- mice reveals a dramatic derangement of hair follicles. Mice with a disrupted TGF alpha gene also have curly whiskers, first evident on the day of birth. The phenotype of TGF alpha -/- mice is remarkably similar to that of the mouse mutant waved-1 (wa-1). Offspring resulting from crosses between TGF alpha -/- and wa-1 mice display the curly whisker-coat phenotype, indicating that the basis of the wa-1 phenotype is a mutation in the TGF alpha gene. These observations suggest that TGF alpha plays a pivotal role in determining skin architecture and in regulating hair development.
Mann
G B
GB
Melbourne Tumour Biology Branch, Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Post Office Royal Melbourne Hospital, Victoria, Australia.
Fowler
K J
KJ
Gabriel
A
A
Nice
E C
EC
Williams
R L
RL
Dunn
A R
AR
D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D002678:Chimera; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor / Q000494:pharmacology; D004847:Epithelial Cells; D005124:Eye Abnormalities / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D017353:Gene Deletion; D006197:Hair / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D007634:Keratitis / Q000235:genetics; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008817:Mice, Mutant Strains; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016254:Mutagenesis, Insertional; D009154:Mutation; D009838:Oligodeoxyribonucleotides / Q000737:chemistry; D012867:Skin / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000235:genetics; D016211:Transforming Growth Factor alpha / Q000502:physiology*; D014738:Vibrissae / Q000648:ultrastructure; D014945:Wound Healing
D009838:Oligodeoxyribonucleotides; D016211:Transforming Growth Factor alpha; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor