Instability of the minisatellite sequence in the first intron of the rat renin gene and localization of the gene to chromosome 13q13 between FH and PEPC loci.

A minisatellite sequence in the first intron of the rat renin gene showed five-allelic polymorphism in 11 inbred rat strains. A new allelic variant, which was thought to be generated in the germ line, was observed in 136 animals of two sets of backcross progenies originating from parental strains with different alleles. These facts suggested that the minisatellite is genetically unstable. A linkage analysis using the backcross progenies confirmed the assignment of renin locus (REN) on linkage group (LG) X at a site between FH (fumarate hydratase) and PEPC (peptidase) loci. Fluorescence in situ hybridization allowed mapping of the renin gene on rat chromosome 13q13.