Mapping of a gene influencing initial dental caries susceptibility to chromosome 11

In the present study, our purpose was to identify candidate gene(s) influencing initial dental caries susceptibility on chromosomes 7 and 11 using a Quantitative Trait Loci (QTL) analysis. On chromosome 7, five suggestive QTLs were detected in D7Mit31, D7Mit148, D7Mit262, D7Mit126 and D7Mit101. On chromosome 7, the peak LRS score was located in a region 50 cM from the centromere between marker D7Mit31 and PTH. On chromosome 11, five significant QTLs were detected in D11Mit242, D11Mit26, D11Mit339, D11Mit177 and D11Mit262. On chromosome 11, one highly significant QTL was detected in Kcnj12, the peak LRS score was located in a region 34.15 cM from the centromere marker Kcnj12. These results suggest that Kcnj12 on chromosome 11 might be one of the major gene(s) responsible for initial dental caries susceptibility.