Molecular probes define different regions of the mouse t complex.

Four genomic clones obtained from microdissected fragments of the proximal portion of mouse chromosome 17 have been used to identify a series of t-haplotype-specific restriction fragments. Their specificity is defined by presence in eight complete t haplotypes and absence from 18 inbred strains of wild-type mice. Partial t haplotypes contain subsets of the t-specific fragments, and each can be classified according to the t-specific fragments it contains. This is the first molecular evidence that independent partial t haplotypes contain different lengths of t haplotype DNA. Recombination studies indicate that partial t haplotypes suppress recombination in proportion to the extent of t haplotype DNA they contain. Molecular analysis of partial t haplotypes shows that the t-specific fragments map to and thus define different regions of the t complex. Certain regions of t haplotype DNA defined by t-specific restriction fragments can be correlated with loci involved in the control of transmission ratio distortion.