Mapping of six dominant cataract genes in the mouse

The mapping of six mouse autosomal dominant cataract mutations that were induced by mutagenic treatment with radiation or ethylnitrosourea is described. Three, with differing phenotypes, mapped on Chromosome 1 between the loci of fuzzy (fz) and leaden (ln) and close to the locus of the gamma-crystallin gene cluster. One of these, Cat-2t, had previously been shown to be a member of a group of five allelic mutants. In addition, the previously known mutant eye lens obsolescence, Elo, maps to the same point. There are thus now eight mutants that map to this point and that may involve mutations in one of the gamma-crystallin genes. In addition, one of these mutants may be a homologue of Coppock cataract in man, which also maps close to the gamma-crystallin locus. Of the three remaining mutants, one, with the suggested symbol Cat-5, mapped to the proximal region of Chromosome 10, 23.4 +/- 4.0 cM from downless (dl), a region with homology to human 6q. A second mutant, provisionally designated Opj, mapped on Chromosome 16, 8.2 +/- 3.9 cM from the marker mahoganoid (md). Thus, it possibly has a homologue on human 22q, a region in which one of the beta-crystallin loci is sited. A third mutant, provisionally designated Npp, mapped to Chromosome 5, 1.3 +/- 0.9 cM from the locus of W, and thus probably has a homologue on human Chromosome 4.