Genetic background modifies inner ear and eye phenotypes of jag1 heterozygous mice.
Mice heterozygous for missense mutations of the Notch ligand Jagged1 (Jag1) exhibit head-shaking behavior indicative of an inner ear vestibular defect. In contrast, mice heterozygous for a targeted deletion of the Jag1 gene (Jag1del1) do not demonstrate obvious head-shaking behavior. To determine whether the differences in inner ear phenotypes were due to the types of Jag1 mutations or to differences in genetic background, we crossed Jag1del1 heterozygous mice onto the same genetic background as the missense mutants. This analysis revealed that variation of the Jag1 mutant inner ear phenotype is caused by genetic background differences and is not due to the type of Jag1 mutation. Genome scans of N2 backcross mice identified a significant modifier locus on chromosome 7, as well as a suggestive locus on chromosome 14. We also analyzed modifiers of an eye defect in Jag1del1 heterozygous mice from this same cross.
Kiernan
Amy E
AE
The Jackson Laboratory, Bar Harbor, Maine 04609, USA.
Li
Renhua
R
Hawes
Norman L
NL
Churchill
Gary A
GA
Gridley
Thomas
T
D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal; D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D015834:Cochlear Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D007758:Ear, Inner / Q000502:physiology*; D005128:Eye Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006579:Heterozygote; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D000072100:Jagged-1 Protein; D008297:Male; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D051379:Mice; D008809:Mice, Inbred C3H; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D010641:Phenotype; D000072099:Serrate-Jagged Proteins
D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; C000606274:Jag1 protein, mouse; D000072100:Jagged-1 Protein; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D000072099:Serrate-Jagged Proteins