Chromosomal localization of a new mouse lens opacity gene (lop18)

Examination of mouse strains with a slit lamp and indirect ophthalmoscopy revealed that strain CBA/CaGnLe has a white cataract obvious at weaning age. It soon progresses to a large white nuclear cataract with mild cortical changes. Crosses with C57BL/6J showed that this is inherited as a single recessive fully penetrant gene, which we have designated lop18 (lens opacity 18). Linkage analysis using visible marker T (brachyury), histocompatibility marker H2, and microsatellite markers D17Mit21, D17Mit28, D17Mit38, and D17Mit46 shows that the lop18 gene is located, similar to 16 cM from the centromere on mouse Chromosome 17. It is a likely candidate mutation for the Lu crystallin (Crya1) gene. (C) 1996 Academic Press, Inc.