Methods and materials related to grey alleles
This document relates to methods and materials for determining whether or not a horse contains a Grey allele. For example, diagnostic methods such as nucleic acid-based detection methods and materials such as nucleic acid probes and primer pairs that can be used to determine whether or not a horse contains a duplication in intron 6 of STX17 nucleic acid are provided. This document also relates to methods and materials for treating a mammal having or being likely to develop cancer (e.g., benign, malignant, or metastatic cancer). For example, methods and materials for treating cancer in a mammal by administering an agent having the ability to reduce expression of an STX17 polypeptide and/or an NR4A polypeptide (e.g., an NR4A1, NR4A2, or NR4A3 polypeptide) in the mammal are provided.
1. A method for assisting a horse breeder or horse owner in assessing a horse for the presence of a Grey allele, wherein said method comprises:
(a) sequencing a portion of intron 6 of STX17 nucleic acid of said horse to determine whether or not said horse comprises a duplication in said intron 6,
(b) classifying said horse as containing a Grey allele if said horse comprises said duplication, and
(c) classifying said horse as lacking a Grey allele if said horse does not comprise said duplication.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein said horse is a foal.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein said horse comprises black, brown, or chestnut hair.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein said method comprises determining whether or not said horse is homozygous for said duplication.
5. The method of claim 4 , wherein said method comprises classifying said horse as being homozygous for said Grey allele if said horse is homozygous for said duplication.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein said method comprises determining whether or not said horse is heterozygous for said duplication.
7. The method of claim 6 , wherein said method comprises classifying said horse as being heterozygous for said Grey allele if said horse is heterozygous for said duplication.
8. A method for assisting a horse breeder or horse owner in assessing a horse for the presence of a Grey allele, wherein said method comprises:
(a) using a nucleic acid probe capable of detecting a breakpoint of a duplication in intron 6 of STX17 nucleic acid to determine whether or not said horse comprises said duplication,
(b) classifying said horse as containing a Grey allele if said horse comprises said duplication, and
(c) classifying said horse as lacking a Grey allele if said horse does not comprise said duplication.
9. The method of claim 8 , wherein said nucleic acid probe comprises the nucleic acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:32.
10. The method of claim 8 , wherein said horse is a foal.
11. The method of claim 8 , wherein said horse comprises black, brown, or chestnut hair.
12. The method of claim 8 , wherein said method comprises determining whether or not said horse is homozygous for said duplication.
13. The method of claim 12 , wherein said method comprises classifying said horse as being homozygous for said Grey allele if said horse is homozygous for said duplication.
14. The method of claim 8 , wherein said method comprises determining whether or not said horse is heterozygous for said duplication.
15. The method of claim 14 , wherein said method comprises classifying said horse as being heterozygous for said Grey allele if said horse is heterozygous for said duplication.
16. A method for assisting a horse breeder or horse owner in assessing a horse for the presence of a Grey allele, wherein said method comprises:
(a) using a nucleic acid primer pair capable of amplifying nucleic acid comprising a breakpoint of a duplication in intron 6 of STX17 nucleic acid to determine whether or not said horse comprises said duplication,
(b) classifying said horse as containing a Grey allele if said horse comprises said duplication, and
(c) classifying said horse as lacking a Grey allele if said horse does not comprise said duplication.
17. The method of claim 16 , wherein said horse is a foal.
18. The method of claim 16 , wherein said horse comprises black, brown, or chestnut hair.
19. The method of claim 16 , wherein said method comprises determining whether or not said horse is homozygous for said duplication.
20. The method of claim 19 , wherein said method comprises classifying said horse as being homozygous for said Grey allele if said horse is homozygous for said duplication.
21. The method of claim 16 , wherein said method comprises determining whether or not said horse is heterozygous for said duplication.
22. The method of claim 21 , wherein said method comprises classifying said horse as being heterozygous for said Grey allele if said horse is heterozygous for said duplication.