Positional identification of TNFSF4, encoding OX40 ligand, as a gene that influences atherosclerosis susceptibility.

Ath1 is a quantitative trait locus on mouse chromosome 1 that renders C57BL/6 mice susceptible and C3H/He mice resistant to diet-induced atherosclerosis. The quantitative trait locus region encompasses 11 known genes, including Tnfsf4 (also called Ox40l or Cd134l), which encodes OX40 ligand. Here we report that mice with targeted mutations of Tnfsf4 had significantly (P View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Locating Ath8, a locus for murine atherosclerosis susceptibility and testing several of its candidate genes in mice and humans.

A previous study revealed that the difference in susceptibility to atherosclerotic lesions between inbred mouse strains SM/J and NZB/BlNJ was determined by one major locus (Ath8). In this study a (SM/J x NZB/BlNJ) F(1) x SM/J backcross localized Ath8 by quantitative trait locus mapping to chromosome 4 with a suggestive LOD score of 2.7.

Abundance of repetitive sequence elements in the mouse testis-specific lactate dehydrogenase-C gene.

We have cloned and sequenced the entire mouse ldhc gene and mapped it physically in relation to the somatic ldha gene. The 2 genes were found to be oriented in head-to-tail fashion with about a 6-kilobase (kb) distance between the 3' end of ldha and the 5' end of ldhc. The ldhc gene is composed of 43% repetitive elements compared to only 16% in the ldha gene.

Three novel spermatogenesis-specific zinc finger genes.

We have cloned and characterized the expression, during spermatogenesis, of three novel zinc finger genes (Zfp94, Zfp95, Zfp96). Analysis of the deduced protein sequences reveals that all three molecules belong to the LeR family (leucine-rich zinc fingers) and that ZFP95 contains a domain homologous to the Krüppel-associated box. All three genes were found expressed at high levels in testis among other tissues, but testis-specific transcripts were observed for Zfp95 and Zfp96.

Coamplification of DAD-R, SOX5, and EKI1 in human testicular seminomas, with specific overexpression of DAD-R, correlates with reduced levels of apoptosis and earlier clinical manifestation.

Seminomas and nonseminomas represent the invasive stages of testicular (TGCTs) of adolescents and adults. Although TGCTs are characterized by extra copies of the short arm of chromosome 12, the genetic basis for gain of 12p in the pathogenesis of this cancer is not yet understood. We have demonstrated that gain of 12p is related to invasive growth and that amplification of specific 12p sequences, i.