Open AccessMapping of Melanoma Modifier Loci in RET Transgenic Mice
Author(s) -
Dragani Tommaso A.,
Peissel Bernard,
Zanesi Nicola,
Aloisi Alessandra,
Dai Yan,
Kato Masashi,
Suzuki Haruhiko,
Nakashima Izumi
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
japanese journal of cancer research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.035
H-Index - 141
eISSN - 1349-7006
pISSN - 0910-5050
DOI - 10.1111/j.1349-7006.2000.tb00897.x
Subject(s) - congenic , biology , melanoma , genetically modified mouse , allele , locus (genetics) , transgene , genetics , chromosome , microbiology and biotechnology , cancer research , gene
Transgenic mice carrying the RET oncogene under the control of the metallothionein promoter exhibit severe pigmentation of the whole skin and melanocytic tumors. The genetic background influences melanoma development in RET mice; founder mice crossed with BALB/c mice show decreased incidence and increased latency of melanocytic tumors, whereas progeny of C57BL/6 mice show the opposite effect. Using partially congenic RET mice on a C57BL/6 genetic background (N3/ RET mice), we studied genetic linkage in (N3/ RET xBALB/c)xN3/ RET backcross mice. We mapped three melanoma modifier loci, on chromosome 1 ( Melm1 and Melm2 ) and chromosome 11 ( Melm3 ), that are linked with early melanoma incidence and latency. Mapping of Melm loci and of five additional regions on chromosomes 6, 8, 9, 12, and 13 indicated allelic imbalance in N3/ RET mice, with a significant excess of BALB/c alleles, suggesting the presence of additional putative melanoma modifier loci on these chromosomes.