| Summary: | Inherited diseases occur across different species. This thesis work has provided insights into the molecular genetic background of three autosomal recessive diseases that affect specific dog breeds. The studied phenotypes comprised two neurodegenerative diseases and a type of skeletal dysplasia. Genome-wide methods, such as SNP chip genotyping, were used to identify disease-associated gene variants. In all three disease phenotypes, the likely causative variant was found in a gene that had not been previously associated with a monogenic disorder. The Norwegian Elkhound and Karelian Bear Dog breeds are affected with inherited chondrodysplasia that causes short-stature dwarfism of varying severity. A genome-wide association study in Norwegian Elkhounds revealed a disease-associated locus on canine chromosome 17 and a nonsense mutation in the ITGA10 gene. The identified mutation was homozygous in all affected dogs from both breeds, and may have been introduced to Karelian Bear Dogs from Norwegian Elkhounds. The ITGA10 gene encodes an α10-integrin protein that assembles into a collagen-binding α10β1 integrin. The α10β1 integrin is a cell surface receptor, found in growth plate chondrocytes, where it mediates the cell s attachments with the surrounding matrix. Due to the mutation, a full-length α10-protein is not produced, disturbing the growth of long bones. Early-onset cerebellar degeneration occurs in the Finnish Hound dog breed. Neurological examination of affected dogs revealed quickly progressing cerebellar ataxia and failure to thrive. Genome-wide association analyses mapped the disease to a 1.5-Mb locus on canine chromosome 8. Sequencing of the SEL1L gene from the locus identified a homozygous missense mutation in all affected dogs. The mutation causes a serine to proline amino acid change within a highly conserved functional domain of the encoded SEL1L protein. The SEL1L protein is found in the endoplasmic reticulum, where it functions within a protein quality control and degradation pathway. Cerebellar ...
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