A spontaneous recessive mutation named nackt (symbol: nkt) affecting hair g
rowth and T-cell development was discovered in a moderately inbred stock of
mice. Skin lesions were characterized by sparse rough coat, bare patches a
round the eyes and neck, and a scratching behavior throughout life. Fluores
cence-activated cell sorter analysis indicated a deficiency in the CD4(+) 8
(-) T-cell subset in the thymus and a marked decrease in CD4(+) T cells in
peripheral lymphoid organs. Linkage analysis using a set of molecular marke
rs and an F-2 intersubspecific cross indicated that the mutation maps to th
e central region of mouse chromosome 13, in a region homologous to human ch
romosome 5q22-q35.