Materials and Methods for Producing Animals With Short Hair

Abstract

The subject invention provides materials and methods for producing animals with short hair length. In a preferred embodiment, this is accomplished by altering in the animal the nucleotide sequence that encodes the prolactin receptor (PRLR) protein such that a truncated version of the protein is produced. Advantageously, and surprisingly, the truncated protein produced according to the subject invention retains lactogenic functionality, but causes the animal to have a short-hair coat.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A method of producing a non-human mammal having a short-haired phenotype, wherein the mammal expresses a truncated PRLR protein lacking a C-terminal portion of the full length PRLR protein and wherein the truncated PRLR protein produces the short-haired phenotype and provides lactogenic function to the non-human mammal, and wherein the method comprises:
 a) obtaining a cell capable of being developed in to a non-human mammal, and   b) introducing a polynucleotide encoding the truncated PRLR protein into the cell or manipulating the genomic DNA of the cell so that the genomic DNA comprises the polynucleotide encoding the truncated PRLR protein, and   c) producing the non-human mammal from the cell.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the cell capable of being developed in to the non-human mammal is a totipotent cell. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the totipotent cell which is selected from a stem cell, an embryonic stem cell, a fertilized oocyte, a zygote. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the non-human mammal is a bovine, pig, horse, goat, cat, mouse, rat, dog, ape, chimpanzee, or orangutan. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the non-human mammal is a bovine. 
     
     
         6 . A method of producing a non-human mammal having a short-haired phenotype, wherein the mammal expresses a truncated PRLR protein comprising amino acids 1-390 of the sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 7, or a variant thereof, and does not contain all of the amino acids 391-581 of the sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 7, and wherein the method comprises:
 a) obtaining a cell capable of being developed in to a non-human mammal, and   b) introducing a polynucleotide encoding the truncated PRLR protein into the cell or manipulating the genomic DNA of the cell so that the genomic DNA comprises the polynucleotide encoding the truncated PRLR protein, and   c) producing the non-human mammal from the cell.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the polynucleotide encoding the truncated PRLR protein comprises a sequence of SEQ ID NO: 3 or a homolog thereof having at least 90% sequence identity to the sequence of SEQ ID NO: 3 and wherein the polynucleotide does not contain the nucleotide sequence or a fragment of SEQ ID NO: 6 or does not contain the nucleotide sequence or a fragment of SEQ ID NO: 6 in the protein reading frame of the polynucleotide of SEQ ID NO: 3. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the non-human mammal is bovine. 
     
     
         9 . A polynucleotide comprising a sequence of SEQ ID NO: 3 or a homolog thereof having at least 90% sequence identity, wherein the polynucleotide does not contain the nucleotide sequence, or a fragment thereof, of SEQ ID NO: 6 in the protein reading frame of the polynucleotide. 
     
     
         10 . A protein encoded by the polynucleotide of  claim 9 . 
     
     
         11 . The protein of  claim 10 , wherein the protein comprises the sequence of SEQ ID NO: 8. 
     
     
         12 . A transfection vector, expression vector or a host cell comprising the polynucleotide of  claim 9 . 
     
     
         13 . A genetically engineered animal comprising one or more copies of the polynucleotide of  claim 9  inserted into its genomic DNA, wherein the genetically engineered animal exhibits a short haired coat phenotype. 
     
     
         14 . A genetically engineered animal carrying one or more mutations in one or both copies of the PRLR gene wherein the mutation results in the expression of the protein of  claim 10  and the short hair coat phenotype. 
     
     
         15 . The genetically engineered animal of  claim 13 , wherein the animal is selected from the group consisting of: bovids, pigs, horses, goats, cats, mice, rats, dogs, apes, chimpanzees, and orangutans. 
     
     
         16 . The genetically engineered animal of  claim 13 , wherein the animal is cattle. 
     
     
         17 . The genetically engineered animal of  claim 14 , wherein the animal is selected from the group consisting of: bovids, pigs, horses, goats, cats, mice, rats, dogs, apes, chimpanzees, and orangutans. 
     
     
         18 . The genetically engineered animal of  claim 14 , wherein the animal is cattle.