FC-01   FINNEGAN AND DEFOLLICULATED, TWO MUTATIONS ON MOUSE CHROMOSOME 11 WITH IDENTICAL PHENOTYPES AFFECTING THE HAIR CYCLE, HAIR FOLLICLE AND SEBACEOUS GLAND DIFFERENTIATION

F. Pryde, P. Nolan, R. Porter Cancer Research UK Cell Structure Research Lab, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee MRC, Mammalian Genetics Unit, Harwell, Oxfordshire, UK.

Recently we described a novel spontaneous hair loss mutant, Defolliculted, that has an aberrant catagen stage of the hair cycle, altered differentiation of the sebaceous gland and ultimately complete destruction of the pilosebaceous unit (Porter et al 2002). Since then a further allele of Defolliculated has been identified called Finnegan. Finnegan was identified in progeny of ENU-mutagenised males at Harwell. Both Finnegan and Defolliculated mutations map to the same region of mouse chromosome 11 and it is highly likely the phenotypes of the two mice are due to different mutations in the same gene. This will be useful for investigating the function of the gene in the regulation of growth control and differentiation of the hair follicle. In the current study the mice are being used to investigate the pathways controlling cell survival and apoptosis during the catagen stage of the hair cycle. We are looking for changes in phosphorylation or expression of key components of growth factor pathways that are altered between wild type and mutant mice using immunohistochemistry, western blotting and microarrays. By studying these mice it will be possible to identify new genes involved in the hair cycle and learn more about what controls the apoptosis and remodelling of the hair follicle during catagen.