Genetic control of the expression of two extended globoglycolipids carrying either the stage specific embryonic antigen-1 or -3 determinant in mouse kidney.

In the preceding paper (J. Biochem. 101, 553-562 (1987], we reported the structures of two neutral glycolipids (GL-X and GL-Y) purified from mouse kidney, and demonstrated the occurrence of polymorphic variation of these two glycolipids in inbred strains of mice. GL-X was characterized as galactosyl beta 1-3globotetraosylceramide, which was reported to be stage specific embryonic antigen-3 (SSEA-3) by Kannagi et al. (J. Biol. Chem. 258, 8934-8942 (1983], and GL-Y as 3-fucolactosaminyl beta 1-6(galactosyl beta 1-3)globotetraosylceramide, which carries the SSEA-1 determinant. In order to elucidate the mode of genetic control of GL-X and GL-Y expression, two variants, i.e., BALB/c mice expressing GL-Y and DBA/2 mice lacking GL-Y but expressing GL-X as the major neutral glycolipid, were subjected to mating experiments and glycolipid analysis. F1 hybrids expressed GL-Y, therefore GL-Y expression is dominant, and DBA/2 mice were determined to be recessive homozygotes. Through analysis of backcross and F2 mice, DBA/2 mice were demonstrated to carry a single defective autosomal gene, and it is concluded that because of this DBA/2 mice cannot express GL-Y and so accumulate GL-X. An attempt to map the gene controlling GL-Y expression on mouse chromosomes using coat colors and recombinant inbred strains was not successful.