Structure and expression of the hairless gene of mice.

The hairless mutation of mice was caused by insertion of a murine leukemia virus. Starting with sequences flanking the provirus, a series of overlapping clones surrounding the viral integration site were obtained. By using a combination of sequencing, PCR, and exon-trapping techniques, the hairless gene was identified. It encodes a predicted protein of 1182 amino acids, including a potential zinc-finger domain. The expression patterns of the gene closely reflect the phenotype of animals carrying the hairless mutation.