Strain Detail Sheet

Phenotype:
This is a homozygous mutant. The mutant allele is recessive to the dominant wildtype allele, and dominant to the recessive wildtype allele. This mutant allele on the C57BL/6 background (MMRRC:000154-MU) produces a mottled to variable agouti coloration and differs from mouse to mouse, but on this background the mice are agouti without mottling or variability.

The agouti locus regulations the production of pheomelanin (yellow melanin pigment) versus eumelanin (nonyellow melanin pigment) in closely regulated patterns within individual hairs and over different areas of the body.

Homozygous mutant mice (MMRRC:000155) are not mottled.

Mice mutant at the agouti locus offer a remarkably broad range of phenotypic attributes that have been and will in future be useful for the study of obesity, diabetes, and the mechanisms by which genes and their products interact to regulate phenotypes

Mammalian Phenotype Terms:(provided by MGI)      Extend all MPTs
      assigned by genotype

The following phenotype information may relate to one or more alleles on a genetic background differing from this MMRRC strain.

a^m/a

        involves: 101/Rl * C3H/Rl

• pigmentation phenotype
  • irregular coat pigmentation (MGI Ref IDs J:29504, J:5964)
    • mice are mottled with agouti and nonagouti patches of fur with hairs of both types intermingled at the pattern edges (MGI Ref ID J:29504)
    • there is a continuum of color pattern ranging from all black indistinguishable from mice with a a^e genotype, see a^e , to degrees of yellow mottling on a black background, to mice with an agouti coat color pattern (MGI Ref ID J:5964)
    • the genetic background of the mother influences the coat pattern of the offspring (MGI Ref ID J:5964)
    • mottled coat (MGI Ref ID J:29504)
      • matings of genotype a^m/a to a/a mice produce about 50% mottled offspring
• other phenotype
  • maternal effect (MGI Ref ID J:5964)
    • the genetic background of the mother influences the coat pattern of the offspring
• integument phenotype
  • irregular coat pigmentation (MGI Ref IDs J:29504, J:5964)
    • mice are mottled with agouti and nonagouti patches of fur with hairs of both types intermingled at the pattern edges (MGI Ref ID J:29504)
    • there is a continuum of color pattern ranging from all black indistinguishable from mice with a a^e genotype, see a^e , to degrees of yellow mottling on a black background, to mice with an agouti coat color pattern (MGI Ref ID J:5964)
    • the genetic background of the mother influences the coat pattern of the offspring (MGI Ref ID J:5964)
    • mottled coat (MGI Ref ID J:29504)
      • matings of genotype a^m/a to a/a mice produce about 50% mottled offspring

Founder genetic background: (101/Rl x C3H/Rl)F1

Strain genetic background: JU/CtLm

Strain Development:
The original mutant was the offspring of an irradiated (101/Rl x C3H/Rl)F1 mouse that had been crossed to the T stock (homozygous for 7 recessive markers, but not inbred). The stock was then either brother-sister mated or backcrossed onto the C57BL/10 background (exact breeding information to determine which mating program was performed is not available). These mice were obtained by the donating investigator and the target mutation was then backcrossed from one founder individual onto the JU/CtLm strain for approximately 20 generations to create this stock (and onto the C57BL/6J strain to create MMRRC:000154-MU) followed by brother-sister mating with occasional backcrosses to the JU/CtLm strain.

Donor: Dr. Lynn Lamoreux, Texas A&M University

Primary Reference:

Hustad CM, Perry WL, Siracusa LD, Rasberry C, Cobb L, Cattanach BM, Kovatch R, Copeland NG, Jenkins NA. Molecular genetic characterization of six recessive viable alleles of the mouse agouti locus.Genetics. 1995 May;140(1):255-65. (Medline: 7635290)

Lamoreux ML, Zhou BK, Rosemblat S, Orlow SJ. The pinkeyed-dilution protein and the eumelanin/pheomelanin switch: in support of a unifying hypothesis. Pigment Cell Res. 1995 Oct;8(5):263-70. (Medline: 8789201)

Wolff GL. Kodell RL. Moore SR. Cooney CA. Maternal epigenetics and methyl supplements affect agouti gene expression in A^vy/a mice. FASEB Journal. 12(11):949-57, 1998 Aug. (Medline: 9707167)

Poole TW. Dermal-epidermal interactions and the action of alleles at the agouti locus in the mouse. II. The viable yellow (A^vy) and mottled agouti (a^m) alleles. Developmental Biology. 80(2):495-500, 1980 Dec. (Medline: 7004955)

Russell LB, Genetic and Functional Mosaicism in the Mouse, Pages 153-81 in Locke M, ed., The Role of the Chromosomes in Development. 1964. Academic Press, New York.

Coat color: Agouti (not chimeric/mottled)

Other:

MMRRC Breeding System: Sib mating

Breeding Scheme(s):

• Homozygous female x Homozygous male

Generation: Unknown

Overall Breeding Performance: Excellent

Viability and Fertility	Female	Male
Homozygotes are viable:	Yes	Yes
Homozygotes are fertile:	Yes	Yes
Heterozygotes are fertile:	Yes	Yes
Age Reproductive Decline:	26 weeks	26 weeks

Pair breeding recommended due to the large litter size; feed mice a 9% fat diet.

Additional charges may apply for any special requests. Shipping costs are in addition to the basic distribution/resuscitation fees. Information on shipping costs and any additional charges will be provided by the supplying MMRRC facility.

Click button to Request this one strain. (Use the MMRRC Catalog Search to request more than one strain.) Request this Strain
MMRRC Item # Description	Distribution Fee/unit (US $)	Units	Notes
000155-MU-RESUS Litter recovered from cryo-archive	$2,022.00 Non-Profit $4,109.00 For-Profit	Litter	Recovered litter1; additional fees for any special requests.
000155-MU-SPERM Cryo-preserved spermatozoa	$437.00 Non-Profit $817.00 For-Profit	Aliquot	Approximate quantity.2

¹ The distribution fee covers the expense of resuscitating mice from the cryo-archive; you will receive the resulting litter. The litter will contain at minimum one breedable mutant carrier; the actual number of animals and the gender and genotype ratios will vary. (Typically, multiple breeder pairs can be established from the recovered litter.) Prior to shipment, the MMRRC will provide information about the animals recovered. If you anticipate or find that you need to request specific genotypes, genders or quantities of mice in excess of what is likely from a resuscitated litter, you may discuss available options and pricing with the supplying MMRRC facility.

² An aliquot contains sufficient material (volume and concentration) for at least two IVF or several artificial inseminations (based on our procedures). The MMRRC makes no guarantee concerning success of these procedures when performed outside the MMRRC facilities.

³ An aliquot contains a sufficient number of embryos (in one or more vials and based on the transfer success rate of the MMRRC facility) to transfer to at least two recipients. The MMRRC makes no guarantee concerning embryo transfer success experienced in the recipient investigator's laboratory. Neither gender nor genotype ratios are guaranteed.