GENETIC-MAPPING AND CHROMOSOME LOCALIZATION OF THE RAT MITOCHONDRIAL GLYCEROL-3-PHOSPHATE DEHYDROGENASE GENE, A CANDIDATE FOR NON-INSULIN-DEPENDENT DIABETES-MELLITUS

The mitochondrial FAD-dependent glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (mt GPD) plays an important role in the regulation of insulin secretion an d has been postulated as a candidate responsible for the pathogenesis of non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) in humans as well a s in rodent models of NIDDM. Recent molecular genetic studies of the G oto-Kakizaki (GK) rat model of NIDDM have identified loci linked to NI DDM. To elucidate whether rat mtGPD might play a role in the pathogene sis of NIDDM, the rat mtGPD gene (Gpd2) was cloned, and a genetic mark er for Gpd2 was developed. The gene mapped to the region of rat chromo some 3 that contains a region linked to NIDDM in the GK rat. Fluoresce nce in situ hybridization was also carried out to verify the map posit ion. (C) 1996 Academic Press, Inc.