Biomaterial Database

Gene expression at the pink-eyed dilution (p) locus in the mouse is confirmed to be pigment cell autonomous using recombinant embryonic skin grafts. 1985

D A Stephenson, and J E Hornby

Sash (Wsh), a viable and fully fertile allele of the dominant spotting (W) locus (Lyon & Glenister, 1982) has been used in a modified test system to investigate the site of gene expression at the pink-eyed dilution (p) locus. Reciprocal recombinant epidermal@dermal skin grafts were constructed from 13-day embryonic skin of p and Wsh homozygotes. Thus in the reciprocal experiments pink-eyed dilution melanocytes were exposed to any environmental influence from the wild-type allele of the p locus in either the epidermis (when WshWsh) or the dermis (when WshWsh). The hair pigmentation of the grafts recovered after three weeks beneath the testicular tunica of adult male mice was always typical of the p phenotype showing that p is melanocyte autonomous. This result was supported by experiments using a modification of Mayer's (1965) neural crest grafting technique and the construction of 14-day recombinant skin grafts. Sash (WshWsh) epidermis can support melanocyte differentiation and pigment production but lacks functional melanocytes. The advantages of Wsh in experimental systems for testing the site of pigment gene expression have been demonstrated. Control experiments confirmed the dermal influence of agouti (A) over non-agouti (a) epidermis but non-agouti dermis did not overrule agouti pink-eyed dilution (AA pp) epidermis suggesting an epistatic effect of p in the melanocyte.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008544	Melanocytes	Mammalian pigment cells that produce MELANINS, pigments found mainly in the EPIDERMIS, but also in the eyes and the hair, by a process called melanogenesis. Coloration can be altered by the number of melanocytes or the amount of pigment produced and stored in the organelles called MELANOSOMES. The large non-mammalian melanin-containing cells are called MELANOPHORES.	Melanocyte
D008807	Mice, Inbred BALB C	An inbred strain of mouse that is widely used in IMMUNOLOGY studies and cancer research.	BALB C Mice, Inbred,BALB C Mouse, Inbred,Inbred BALB C Mice,Inbred BALB C Mouse,Mice, BALB C,Mouse, BALB C,Mouse, Inbred BALB C,BALB C Mice,BALB C Mouse
D008808	Mice, Inbred CBA	An inbred strain of mouse that is widely used in BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH.	Mice, CBA,Mouse, CBA,Mouse, Inbred CBA,CBA Mice,CBA Mice, Inbred,CBA Mouse,CBA Mouse, Inbred,Inbred CBA Mice,Inbred CBA Mouse
D009154	Mutation	Any detectable and heritable change in the genetic material that causes a change in the GENOTYPE and which is transmitted to daughter cells and to succeeding generations.	Mutations
D009432	Neural Crest	The two longitudinal ridges along the PRIMITIVE STREAK appearing near the end of GASTRULATION during development of nervous system (NEURULATION). The ridges are formed by folding of NEURAL PLATE. Between the ridges is a neural groove which deepens as the fold become elevated. When the folds meet at midline, the groove becomes a closed tube, the NEURAL TUBE.	Neural Crest Cells,Neural Fold,Neural Groove,Cell, Neural Crest,Cells, Neural Crest,Crest, Neural,Crests, Neural,Fold, Neural,Folds, Neural,Groove, Neural,Grooves, Neural,Neural Crest Cell,Neural Crests,Neural Folds,Neural Grooves
D010858	Pigmentation	Coloration or discoloration of a part by a pigment.	Pigmentations
D011995	Recombination, Genetic	Production of new arrangements of DNA by various mechanisms such as assortment and segregation, CROSSING OVER; GENE CONVERSION; GENETIC TRANSFORMATION; GENETIC CONJUGATION; GENETIC TRANSDUCTION; or mixed infection of viruses.	Genetic Recombination,Recombination,Genetic Recombinations,Recombinations,Recombinations, Genetic
D002454	Cell Differentiation	Progressive restriction of the developmental potential and increasing specialization of function that leads to the formation of specialized cells, tissues, and organs.	Differentiation, Cell,Cell Differentiations,Differentiations, Cell
D005786	Gene Expression Regulation	Any of the processes by which nuclear, cytoplasmic, or intercellular factors influence the differential control (induction or repression) of gene action at the level of transcription or translation.	Gene Action Regulation,Regulation of Gene Expression,Expression Regulation, Gene,Regulation, Gene Action,Regulation, Gene Expression
D005838	Genotype	The genetic constitution of the individual, comprising the ALLELES present at each GENETIC LOCUS.	Genogroup,Genogroups,Genotypes