title: Evaluation of the CTSL2 gene as a candidate gene for alopecia X in Pomeranians and Keeshonden.
abstract: Alopecia X is a noninflammatory, progressive, bilateral symmetric alopecia in dogs. The disease is mainly found in Nordic breeds. The breed predisposition and a strong familial accumulation suggest a hereditary background. We analyzed the cathepsin L2 gene (CTSL2) as a candidate for alopecia X. The comparative sequencing of 14 affected and 18 control animals revealed ten polymorphisms; however, none of these polymorphisms affected the coding sequence. Haplotype analysis did not reveal an association of one particular CTSL2 haplotype with the disease phenotype; therefore, we conclude that the CTSL2 gene is probably not the causative gene for alopecia X.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Genetics, DermFocus, Vetsuisse Faculty of the University of Berne, Berne, Switzerland.
authors.forename: E-M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Mausberg
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Drögemüller
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Leeb
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Dolf
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rüfenacht
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Welle
mesh_terms: D000505:Alopecia / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D056668:Cathepsin L; D002403:Cathepsins / Q000235:genetics*; D003546:Cysteine Endopeptidases / Q000235:genetics*; D004247:DNA / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D006239:Haplotypes; D008297:Male; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000662:veterinary; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D016415:Sequence Alignment
chemical_list: D004247:DNA; D002403:Cathepsins; D003546:Cysteine Endopeptidases; D056668:Cathepsin L