Factor XI deficiency in Japanese black cattle is an hereditary mild bleeding disorder with an autosomal recessive mode of inheritance. To characterize the molecular lesion causing factor XI deficiency in cattle, we isolated an entire coding region of the bovine F11 gene, which comprises 15 exons and 14 introns, and determined its nucleotide sequences. Comparison of the nucleotide sequences of the F11 gene between affected and unaffected animals revealed an insertion of 15 nucleotides in exon 9 of the affected animals. The insertion results in a substitution of one amino acid with six amino acids in a highly conserved amino acid sequence in the fourth apple domain of factor XI protein. Genotyping of the F11 gene in 109 Japanese black cattle revealed that the insertion clearly corresponded to the factor XI activities of the animals. We therefore concluded that the insertion of 15 nucleotides in the F11 gene is the causative mutation for factor XI deficiency in Japanese black cattle. Genotyping of the F11gene by detecting the insertion will be an effective DNA-based diagnostic system to prevent incidence of the disease.

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Multiple ocular defects (MOD) in cattle is an autosomal recessive hereditary disorder characterized by dysplasia of the lens, retinal detachment, persistence of the hyaloid artery, and microphthalmia. The locus responsible for MOD has been mapped to the proximal region of bovine chromosome 18. In the present study, we refined the localization of the MOD locus to a 1.0-Mb interval by haplotype analysis using a pedigree of affected animals. Comparison of nucleotide sequence of genes in this region revealed a one-nucleotide insertion in the WFDC1 gene, which resulted in a frame shift mutation and premature termination codon at the middle of the protein. WFDC1 is a small secretory protein containing a WAP-type four disulfide core domain. Specific expression of Wfdc1 was observed in the lens, retina, and optic nerves of embryonic and adult mouse eyes by immunohistochemical staining and in situ hybridization. The present finding demonstrated the essential role of WFDC1 in mammalian eye development.

Background: Rev7 encodes a subunit of Pol for translesion DNA synthesis (TLS). Results: We found a Rev7 mutation in mice that causes developmental defects and increases susceptibility for genotoxicity. Conclusion: Rev7 is essential for mouse development through its function in cell proliferation.Significance: These findings demonstrate a unique function of Pol in development that is absent in other TLS polymerases.