In a previous study we characterized the B6.CAST-(
D2Mit329-D2Mit457)N(6) (B62D) congenic strain, which possesses CAST/EiJ (CAST) chromosome 2 donor alleles from 74 to 180 Mbp on a C57BL6/J
(B6) background. This strain exhibited significant decreases in body weight and adiposity attributable to the weight gain
2 (
Wg2) quantitative trait locus (QTL). To refine the location of
Wg2, we used a two-stage genetic dissection strategy consisting of a B62D × B6 backcross, which mapped
Wg2 to the proximal portion of the B62D donor region, followed by the development of seven overlapping subcongenic F
2 intercrosses targeting the
Wg2 genomic interval. Surprisingly, five of the seven intercrosses displayed significant differences, dependent on genotype,
in body weight and/or fat pad mass. These effects were the result of at least four independent QTLs that were named
Wg2a,
b,
c, and
d. In contrast to the lean and low body weight phenotype of the B62D parental strain, mice homozygous for CAST congenic alleles
(
cast/cast) at
Wg2a were significantly heavier at 6 and 9 weeks of age, while
cast/cast mice at
Wg2c had higher levels of total fat. Consistent with the prior observed effects of
Wg2,
cast/cast mice at
Wg2b displayed significant decreases in 6- and 9-week body weight as well as a decrease in total fat pad mass. All of the QTLs
had additive effects on body composition except
Wg2d, which displayed underdominance for total fat mass. Significant differences in weight and adiposity were also observed in
genetically identical
b6/b6 homozygous mice across the panel of subcongenics, suggesting either maternal or paternal contributions to body composition.
These data represent a significant advancement toward the identification of mouse chromosome 2 growth and obesity quantitative
trait genes.