title: Genomic characterisation, chromosomal assignment and in vivo localisation of the canine high mobility group A1 (HMGA1) gene.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The high mobility group A1 proteins (HMGA1a/HMGA1b) are highly conserved between mammalian species and widely described as participating in various cellular processes. By inducing DNA conformation changes the HMGA1 proteins indirectly influence the binding of various transcription factors and therefore effect the transcription regulation. In humans chromosomal aberrations affecting the HMGA1 gene locus on HSA 6p21 were described to be the cause for various benign mesenchymal tumours while high titres of HMGA1 proteins were shown to be associated with the neoplastic potential of various types of cancer. Interestingly, the absence of HMGA1 proteins was shown to cause insulin resistance and diabetes in humans and mice. Due to the various similarities in biology and presentation of human and canine cancers the dog has joined the common rodent animal model for therapeutic and preclinical studies. Accordingly, the canine genome was sequenced completely twice but unfortunately this could not solve the structure of canine HMGA1 gene.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Herein we report the characterisation of the genomic structure of the canine HMGA1 gene consisting of 7 exons and 6 introns spanning in total 9524 bp, the in vivo localisation of the HMGA1 protein to the nucleus, and a chromosomal assignment of the gene by FISH to CFA12q11. Additionally, we evaluated a described canine HMGA1 exon 6 SNP in 55 Dachshunds.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The performed characterisations will make comparative analyses of aberrations affecting the human and canine gene and proteins possible, thereby providing a basis for revealing mechanisms involved in HMGA1 related pathogenesis in both species.
authors.affiliation: Clinic for Small Animals and Research Cluster of Excellence REBIRTH, University of Veterinary Medicine Hanover, Bischofsholer Damm 15, 30173 Hanover, Germany. claudia.beuing@tiho-hannover.de
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Beuing
authors.forename: Jan T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Soller
authors.forename: Michaela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Muth
authors.forename: Sigfried
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wagner
authors.forename: Gaudenz
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Dolf
authors.forename: Claude
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Schelling
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Richter
authors.forename: Saskia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Willenbrock
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Reimann-Berg
authors.forename: Susanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Winkler
authors.forename: Ingo
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Nolte
authors.forename: Jorn
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bullerdiek
authors.forename: Hugo
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Murua Escobar
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000235:genetics; D002874:Chromosome Mapping; D022202:Chromosomes, Artificial, Bacterial; D033481:Chromosomes, Mammalian / Q000235:genetics*; D004247:DNA / Q000235:genetics; D004285:Dogs / Q000235:genetics*; D005091:Exons; D025741:HMGA1a Protein / Q000235:genetics*; D017404:In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence; D017354:Point Mutation; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide
chemical_list: D025741:HMGA1a Protein; D004247:DNA