title: Radiation hybrid mapping of cataract genes in the dog.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To facilitate the molecular characterization of naturally occurring cataracts in dogs by providing the radiation hybrid location of 21 cataract-associated genes along with their closely associated polymorphic markers. These can be used for segregation testing of the candidate genes in canine cataract pedigrees.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-one genes with known mutations causing hereditary cataracts in man and/or mouse were selected and mapped to canine chromosomes using a canine:hamster radiation hybrid RH5000 panel. Each cataract gene ortholog was mapped in relation to over 3,000 markers including microsatellites, ESTs, genes, and BAC clones. The resulting independently determined RH-map locations were compared with the corresponding gene locations from the draft sequence of the canine genome.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty-one cataract orthologs were mapped to canine chromosomes. The genetic locations and nearest polymorphic markers were determined for 20 of these orthologs. In addition, the resulting cataract gene locations, as determined experimentally by this study, were compared with those determined by the canine genome project. All genes mapped within or near chromosomal locations with previously established homology to the corresponding human gene locations based on canine:human chromosomal synteny.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The location of selected cataract gene orthologs in the dog, along with their nearest polymorphic markers, serves as a resource for association and linkage testing in canine pedigrees segregating inherited cataracts. The recent development of canine genomic resources make canine models a practical and valuable resource for the study of human hereditary cataracts. Canine models can serve as large animal models intermediate between mouse and man for both gene discovery and the development of novel cataract therapies.
authors.affiliation: J. A. Baker Institute for Animal Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA. lsh22@cornell.edu
authors.forename: Linda S
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Hunter
authors.forename: Duska J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Sidjanin
authors.forename: Jennifer L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Zangerl
authors.forename: Francis
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Galibert
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Andre
authors.forename: Ewen
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kirkness
authors.forename: Elijah
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Talamas
authors.forename: Gregory M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Acland
authors.forename: Gustavo D
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Aguirre
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002386:Cataract / Q000235:genetics; D002460:Cell Line; D006224:Cricetinae; D004285:Dogs / Q000235:genetics*; D008040:Genetic Linkage; D005819:Genetic Markers; D008126:Lod Score; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D021101:Radiation Hybrid Mapping; D016324:Sequence Tagged Sites
chemical_list: D005819:Genetic Markers