Pattern of segmental recombination in the distal inversion of mouse t haplotypes

To examine genetic exchange between t haplotypes and their wild-type homologs, four previously identified mouse Chromosome (Chr) 17 variants termed mosaic haplotypes were analyzed in detail. Three of these haplotypes-one from a Mus musculus population in Bulgaria, one from a Mus domesticus population in Chile, and one from a M. domesticus population in Germany-display properties indicative of the t complex. All four haplotypes are exceptional because they are characterized by the presence of a few wild-type DNA markers in the distal inversion [In(17)4] of a t haplotype chromosome: thus, they are classified as mosaic t haplotypes. The mosaic pattern for each haplotype is distinct, however. We compared the mosaic haplotypes with each other, and with several well-characterized laboratory t haplotypes, by analyzing several DNA markers in the In(17)4 region of the t complex, where all of the mosaicism occurs. We used a combination of high-resolution restriction mapping, DNA sequencing, and analysis of new DNA markers to classify the haplotypes. This analysis shows that segmental exchange, either by gene conversion or double crossing-over, has occurred at molecular markers in the vicinity of a gene, Dnahc8, that is a candidate for the t complex distorter locus Tcd2. While it is unclear whether segmental exchanges have included the Tcd2 gene, it is apparent that several independent recombination events have occurred in In(17)4 during the recent evolution of t haplotypes.