Identification and sequencing the juvenile spermatogonial depletion critical interval on mouse chromosome 1 reveals the presence of eight candidate genes

In mice, the recessive, non-pleiotropic, juvenile spermatogonial depletion (jsd) mutation results in a single wave of spermatogenesis, followed by fai lure of type A spermatogonial stem cells to differentiate, rendering adult males sterile. As part of an effort to identify the gene underlying this mu tation, we report here the construction of a high-resolution genetic map in volving more than 1000 meioses and 24 polymorphic loci. Our data define a c ritical jsd interval of approximately 0.4 cM at 49 cM on mouse chromosome 1 , between D1Mit215 and 257SP6. We have constructed a physical map spanning the region comprising 24 overlapping BACs. Eighteen of these BACs have been fully sequenced, or are in draft form, allowing us to annotate approximate ly 2.5 Mb of DNA surrounding the jsd locus. The critical 0.4 cM jsd interva l corresponds to a physical distance of similar to1.5 Mb. Eight genes have been identified in this interval, two of which appear to be possible candid ates for the jsd mutation. (C) 2001 Academic Press. Press.