Chromosomal localization of the human osteocalcin gene

The human osteocalcin gene was assigned to chromosome 1 by Southern blot analysis of DNAs from a panel of mouse-human somatic cell hybrids with limited numbers of human chromosomes and the complete complement of murine chromosomes. By Southern blot analysis of DNAs from mouse-human hybrids that retain specific segments of human chromosome 1, we have determined that the locus of the human osteocalcin gene is on the long arm of chromosome 1, distal (telomeric) to the -spectrin gene. Osteocalcin is a bone specific protein and it is note worthy that another osteoblast product, the bone/liver/placental alkaline phosphatase gene has also been mapped to chromosome 1.     

The gene for human p53 cellular tumor antigen is located on chromosome 17 short arm (17p13).

A clone that cross-hybridizes with a mouse p53 probe has been isolated from a cDNA library of simian virus 40-transformed human fibroblasts. This cloned human p53 cDNA was used as a probe to examine DNAs obtained from human-rodent somatic cell hybrids that have segregated human chromosomes. The results show that the human p53 gene is located on chromosome 17. In addition, Southern analysis of hybrids prepared from human cells containing a chromosome 17 translocation allowed regional localization of the human p53 gene to the most distal band on the short arm of this chromosome (17p13). Localization of the p53 gene to 17p13 was confirmed by in situ hybridization of metaphase spreads with the human p53 probe.     

Assignment of the gene coding for the T3-delta subunit of the T3-T-cell receptor complex to the long arm of human chromosome 11 and to mouse chromosome 9.

The gene encoding the 20-kDa glycoprotein of the T3-T-cell receptor complex (T3-delta chain) has been mapped to human chromosome 11 by hybridization of a T3-delta cDNA clone (pPGBC#9) to DNA from a panel of human-rodent somatic cell hybrids. In Southern blotting experiments with DNAs of somatic cell hybrids that contained segments of chromosome 11, we were able to assign the T3-delta gene to the distal portion of the long arm of human chromosome 11 (11q23-11qter). By use of a newly developed cDNA clone (pPEM-T3 delta) that codes for the murine T3-delta chain, the mouse T3-delta gene was mapped on chromosome 9. The importance of the T3-delta map position and its relationship to the other genes on the long arm of human chromosome 11 and to those on mouse chromosome 9 is discussed.     

Translocation of oncogene c-sis from chromosome 22 to chromosome 17 in a human myelogenous leukemia cell line

By combining somatic cell genetics, in situ hybridization and Southern hybridization, we found that the c-sis oncogene in the human myelogenous leukemia cell line ML3 is translocated from the long arm (q11----qter) of chromosome 22 to the long arm (mid-portion or q21 region) of chromosome 17. This translocation does not result in rearrangement of the c-sis oncogene.     

Localization of the human c-sis oncogene in Ph1-positive and Ph1-negative chronic myelocytic leukemia by in situ hybridization

Oncogenes are a group of evolutionary conserved cellular genes (c-onc) homologous to the transforming genes of oncogenic retroviruses (v-onc). Some of them are localized near the breakpoints of specific chromosomal aberrations occurring in various neoplasms, as for example the Philadelphia translocation, t(9;22)(q34;q11), in chronic myelocytic leukemia (CML). Recently, we localized the human c-abl oncogene to chromosome region 9q34 and demonstrated a translocation of this gene to the Philadelphia chromosome (Ph1,22q-) in various forms of Ph1-positive, but not Ph1-negative, chronic myelocytic leukemia (CML). Another human oncogene, c-sis, is located on chromosome 22 and was recently reported to be transferred to chromosome 9q+ in one CML patient. We have now studied 2 CML patients with classic and variant types of Ph1 translocation, one Ph1-negative case, and a healthy control using in situ hybridization of a c-sis probe to metaphase chromosomes. These studies show that c-sis: (1) is localized to region 22q12.3-q13.1, far away from the breakpoint region 22q11 in CML, (2) segregates with the translocated part of chromosome 22 to different chromosomes in Ph1-positive patients, and (3) remains on chromosome 22 in the Ph1-negative case. Therefore, these data give no support for an active role of the c-sis gene in the generation of CML. Thus, if either of these two oncogenes is involved in the development of Ph1-positive CML, c-abl appears to be the more important one.     

Polymorphic human somatostatin gene is located on chromosome 3.

Somatostatin is a 14-amino-acid neuropeptide and hormone that inhibits the secretion of several peptide hormones. The human gene for somatostatin SST has been cloned, and the sequence has been determined. This clone was used as a probe in chromosome mapping studies to detect the human somatostatin sequence in human-rodent hybrids. Southern blot analysis of 41 hybrids, including some containing translocations of human chromosomes, placed SST in the q21 leads to qter region of chromosome 3. Human DNAs from unrelated individuals were screened for restriction fragment polymorphisms detectable by the somatostatin gene probe. Two polymorphisms were found: (i) an EcoRI variant located at the 3' end of the gene, found in Caucasian, U.S. Black, and Asian populations with a frequency of approximately 0.10 and (ii) a BamHI variant in the intron, which occurs in Caucasians at a frequency of 0.13.     

Human HST1 (HSTF1) gene maps to chromosome band 11q13 and coamplifies with the INT2 gene in human cancer.

The human HST1 gene, previously designated the hst gene, and now assigned the name HSTF1 for heparin-binding secretory transforming factor in human gene nomenclature, was originally identified as a transforming gene in DNAs from human stomach cancers by transfection assay with mouse NIH 3T3 cells. The amino acid sequence of the product deduced from DNA sequences of the HST1 cDNA and genomic clones had approximately 40% homology to human basic and acidic fibroblast growth factors and mouse Int-2-encoded protein. We have mapped the human HST1 gene to chromosome 11 at band q13.3 by Southern blot hybridization analysis of a panel of human and mouse somatic cell hybrids and in situ hybridization with an HST1 cDNA probe. The HST1 gene was found to be amplified in DNAs obtained from a stomach cancer and a vulvar carcinoma cell line, A431. In all of these samples of DNA, the INT2 gene, previously mapped to human chromosome 11q13, was also amplified to the same degree as the HST1 gene.     

Translocation of c-abl oncogene and PDGFB (c-sis) gene in a case of CML with 46, XY,t(22;22)

Summary In a case of CML with a variant Philadelphia translocation (Ph¹ or Ph) t (22;22) (q11;q13) in bone marrow cells and unstimulated peripheral blood cells, no cytogenetically detectable involvement of chromosome 9 was observed. Southern blot experiments using probes specific for bcr and c-sis however revealed rearrangement of the bcr, but not of PDGFB (c-sis) gene. Northern blot analysis of bone marrow RNA showed a very weak signal with the c-sis probe, while in a lymph-node biopsy PDGFB m-RNA could not be detected. Chromosomal in situ hybridization gave evidence for translocation of c-abl from chromosome 9 to Ph and of PDGFB from chromosome 22 to chromosome 9, as the result of a threefold translocation t(9;22;22).     

Genes for synapsin I, a neuronal phosphoprotein, map to conserved regions of human and murine X chromosomes.

Synapsin I is a neuron-specific phosphoprotein associated with the membranes of small synaptic vesicles. Its function is not entirely clear, but evidence points to a possible role in the regulation of neurotransmitter release. Its biosynthesis is under developmental control. Assignment of the human synapsin I gene to the X chromosome at band Xp11 was accomplished by in situ hybridization, using a rat cDNA probe. Southern blot analysis of DNAs from a panel of human-Chinese hamster somatic cell hybrids with defined regions of the human X chromosome confirmed the in situ mapping data. The mouse synapsin I gene was assigned to the X chromosome, proximal to band XD, by Southern blot analysis of Chinese hamster-mouse somatic cell hybrids with normal or rearranged mouse X chromosomes. In situ chromosomal hybridization experiments localized the mouse synapsin I gene more precisely to bands XA1----A4. These results add to the comparative gene map of mammalian species and support certain hypotheses regarding the evolutionary relationship between human and mouse X chromosomes. We hypothesize that the synapsin I gene could be mutated in human X-linked disorders with primary neuronal degeneration, such as the Rett syndrome.     

Reassignment of the human CSF1 gene to chromosome 1p13-p21

Human macrophage colony-stimulating factor (CSF-1 or M-CSF) is encoded by a single gene that was previously assigned to the long arm of chromosome 5, band q33.1, in a region adjacent to the gene encoding its receptor (Pettenati MJ, et al, Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 84:2970, 1987). Using fluorescence in situ hybridization with genomic probes to examine normal metaphase chromosomes, we reassigned the human CSF1 gene to the short arm of chromosome 1, bands p13-p21. We confirmed this result by hybridizing a CSF1 cDNA probe to filters containing flow-sorted chromosomes and by identifying CSF1 sequences in DNAs extracted from human x rodent somatic cell hybrids that contained human chromosome 1 but not human chromosome 5. Our findings are consistent with studies that have shown tight linkage between the murine CSF1 and amylase genes, as part of a conserved linkage group between mouse chromosome 3 and the short arm of human chromosome 1, which also includes the genes encoding the beta subunits of thyrotropin and nerve growth factor. Assignment of the CSF1 gene to chromosome 1 at bands p13-p21 raises the possibility that it may be altered by certain nonrandom chromosomal abnormalities arising in human hematopoietic malignancies and solid tumors.     

Genetics of type II glycogenosis: Assignment of the human gene for acid α-glucosidase to chromosome 17

We have studied somatic cell hybrids between thymidine kinase (EC 2.7.1.75) deficient mouse cells and human diploid fibroblasts for the expression of human acid alpha-glucosidase (EC 3.2.1.20). A deficiency in this enzyme is associated with the type II glycogenosis or Pompe disease. All 30 somatic cell hybrids selected in hypoxanthine/aminopterin/thymidine medium expressed human acid alpha-glucosidase and galactokinase (EC 2.7.1.6) and retained human chromosome 17; counterselection of the same hybrids in medium containing 5-bromodeoxyuridine resulted in the growth of hybrids that concordantly lost the expression of human acid alpha-glucosidase and galactokinase as well as human chromosome 17. Hybrids between thymidine kinase-deficient mouse cells and fibroblasts from a patient with Pompe disease that contained human chromosome 17 were found not to express human acid alpha-glucosidase. Because we have already shown that hybrids between mouse peritoneal macrophages and GM54VA simian virus 40-transformed human cells selectively retain human chromosome 17 and lose all other human chromosomes, we tested 13 independent mouse macrophage x GM54VA hybrid clones, including two that retained human chromosome 17 and no other human chromosomes, for the expression of human acid alpha-glucosidase and galactokinase. All 13 hybrid clones were found to express these human enzymes. Thus, we conclude that the gene coding for human acid alpha-glucosidase is located on human chromosome 17.     

Assignment of the Gene for Adenine Phosphoribosyltransferase to Human Chromosome 16 by Mouse-Human Somatic Cell Hybridization

A series of mouse-human hybrids was prepared from mouse cells deficient in adenine phosphoribosyltransferase (EC 2.4.2.7) and normal human cells. The hybrids were made in medium containing adenine and alanosine, an antimetabolite known to inhibit de novo adenylic acid biosynthesis. The mouse cells, unable to utilize exogenous adenine, were killed in this medium, but the hybrids proliferated as a consequence of their retaining the human aprt gene. The hybrids were then exposed to the adenine analogs 2,6-diaminopurine and 2-fluoroadenine to select for cells that had lost this gene. Before exposure to the adenine analogs, the expression of human adenine phosphoribosyltransferase by the hybrids was strongly associated only with the presence of human chromosome 16, and afterwards this was the only human chromosome consistently lost. This observation suggests that the human aprt gene can be assigned to chromosome 16.     

Repeat array in Epstein-Barr virus DNA is related to cell DNA sequences interspersed on human chromosomes.

The third internal repeat (IR3) simple repeat array in Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) DNA has a high degree of homology to a reiterated component of cell DNAs. 32P-Labeled human or mouse DNAs hybridize to the IR3 sequence on Southern blots of viral DNA. EBV IR3 probe identifies many restriction enzyme fragments on Southern blots of human and mouse DNAs that have extensive homology to IR3. Cytological hybridization shows that IR3 is homologous to at least one region on each human chromosome except the Y chromosome.     

Human chromosomal localization of genes encoding the gamma 1 and gamma 2 subunits of the gamma-aminobutyric acid receptor indicates that members of this gene family are often clustered in the genome.

The gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptors are the major inhibitory neurotransmitter receptors in the brain and the site of action of a number of important pharmacological agents including barbiturates, benzodiazepines, and ethanol. The gamma 1 and gamma 2 subunits have been shown to be important in mediating responses to benzodiazepines, and a splicing variant of the gamma 2 subunit, gamma 2L, has been shown to be necessary for ethanol actions on the receptor, raising the possibility that the gamma 2 gene may be involved in human genetic predisposition to the development of alcoholism. We have assigned the human genes encoding the gamma 1 and gamma 2 subunits of the GABAA receptor to chromosomes 4 and 5, respectively, by PCR amplification of human-specific products from human-hamster somatic cell hybrid DNAs. Using panels of chromosome-specific natural deletion hybrids, we have further localized the gamma 1 gene (GABRG1) to 4p14-q21.1 and the gamma 2 gene (GABRG2) to 5q31.1-q33.2. These data indicate that the gamma 1 gene may be clustered together with the previously mapped alpha 2 and beta 1 genes on chromosome 4 and that the gamma 2 gene may be close to the previously localized alpha 1 gene on chromosome 5. To further examine the latter possibility the alpha 1 gene was mapped using the chromosome 5 deletion hybrids and shown to be within the same region as the gamma 2 gene, 5q31.1-q33.2. A PCR-based screening strategy was used to isolate a 450-kilobase human genomic yeast artificial chromosome clone containing both the alpha 1 and gamma 2 genes. Pulsed-field gel restriction mapping of the yeast artificial chromosome indicates that the two genes are within 200 kilobases of each other. The data presented here provide further evidence for the nonrandom organization of the human genome by demonstrating that members of the GABAA receptor gene family often occur in small gene clusters widely distributed in the genome.     

The related genes encoding growth hormone and prolactin have been dispersed to chromosomes 10 and 17 in the rat

We have assigned the rat GH gene to chromosome 10 and the rat PRL gene to chromosome 17. DNA from a series of mouse BWTG3 x rat hepatocyte somatic cell hybrids, each of which has retained a unique complement of rat chromosomes, was analyzed for the presence of rat GH and PRL genomic fragments by Southern blotting. Radiolabeled complementary DNAs (cDNAs) encoding rat GH and rat PRL were used as molecular probes. Based upon these assignments, we conclude that the evolutionarily related GH and PRL genes have been dispersed to different chromosomes in rat as in man.     

Chromosomal location of the genes for human immunoglobulin heavy chains.

We have studied somatic cell hybrids between P3x63Ag8 mouse myeloma cells deficient in hypoxanthine phosphoribosyltransferase (EC 2.4.2.8) and either human peripheral lymphocytes or human lymphoblastoid or myeloma cells for the production of human immunoglobulin chains and for the expression of enzyme markers assigned to each of the different human chromosomes. Human chromosome 14 was the only human chromosome present in all independent hybrids producing mu, gamma, and alpha human heavy chains. In two of the independent hybrids that produced human heavy chains, human chromosome 14 was the only human chromosome present in the hybrid cells. Loss of human chromosome 14 from these hybrids resulted in the concomitant loss of their ability to produce human immunoglobulin heavy chains. In view of these results, we conclude that the genes for human immunoglobulin heavy chains are located on human chromosome 14 in immunoglobulin-producing human cells.     

Hamster cell line suitable for transfection assay of transforming genes.

We established a subclone, SHOK, from the GHE-L cell line, an immortal line derived from a primary culture of Syrian hamster embryo cells, as a recipient cell line useful for the detection of oncogenes by transfection. SHOK cells were almost as susceptible as NIH 3T3 cells to focus formation by many oncogenes, including v-raf, v-Ha-ras, v-Ki-ras, or activated c-Ha-ras. The susceptibility of SHOK to focus formation was higher than that of NIH 3T3 for v-mos but was lower for v-fps, v-fgr, v-src, v-sis, and v-abl. When DNAs extracted from 27 human and murine tumors were tested for focus formation, 5 DNAs were positive in NIH 3T3 cells, whereas 9 were positive in SHOK cells at the primary transfection. Using SHOK cells as recipients of tumor cellular DNA, we isolated another oncogene and a c-Ki-ras2 gene mutated at codon 146 that were difficult to detect in NIH 3T3 cells. SHOK cells have a low rate of spontaneous transformation, produce easily distinguishable foci, and maintain a stable karyotype in transformed cells. In addition to being useful for the screening of human tumor DNAs, SHOK cells will be useful for the isolation of oncogenes from murine tumors because of their hamster origin.     

A gene on human chromosome 6 functions in assembly of tissue-specific adenosine deaminase isozymes

In human tissues, adenosine deaminase (ADA) (adenosine aminohydrolase; EC 3.5.4.4) activity can be separated by gel electrophoresis into several isozymes. A structural gene (ADA) on chromosome 20 codes for the "erythrocyte" isozyme, ADA-1, which is also expressed in some nonerythroid tissues. Nonerythroid cells also differentially express five ADA "tissue isozymes" of a greater molecular weight than ADA-1. Each ADA tissue isozyme has a characteristic electrophoretic mobility and tissue distribution. It has been suggested that these ADA tissue isozymes are composed of ADA-1 and other components. We report that the expression of one of these tissue isozymes, ADA-d, is dependent upon ADA on chromosome 20 and another gene on chromosome 6 which functions in the assembly of the ADA tissue isozymes. In human-mouse hybrids segregating human chromosomes, chromosome 6(+),20(+) hybrids express both ADA-1 and ADA-d; chromosome 6(-),20(+) hybrids express only ADA-1; while 6(+),20(-) hybrids have no human ADA activity. ADA-d formation also occurs in vitro by self-assembly when an extract of human erythrocytes or chromosome 6(-),20(+) hybrids is mixed with a homogenate of chromosome 6(+),20(-) hybrids. The gene on chromosome 6, designated ADCP, codes for an adenosine deaminase complexing protein. The product of ADCP presumably combines with ADA-1 to form the ADA tissue isozymes. The data are consistent with the hypothesis that the distribution of enzymatic activity between ADA-1 and the tissue isozymes depends on the expression of the gene for ADA complexing protein, while the differences in the electrophoretic mobilities of the ADA isozymes, except ADA-1, are generated, as suggested by others, by the degree of glycosylation of the complexing protein.     

Regional assignment of the structural gene for human alpha-L-iduronidase.

The structural gene encoding human alpha-L-iduronidase has been assigned to chromosome 22 by using immunologic, electrophoretic, and somatic cell hybridization techniques. Polyclonal rabbit antibodies raised against purified human low-uptake alpha-L-iduronidase were used to discriminate the human and murine isozymes by a sensitive immuno-precipitation assay. The human chromosome constitution of each clone was determined by cytogenetic and enzyme marker electrophoretic techniques. In 65 human (fibroblast)-mouse (RAG) somatic cell hybrids (from four independent fusions), the expression of human alpha-L-iduronidase was 100% concordant with the presence of human chromosome 22; the assignment was confirmed by the demonstration of the human enzyme in tertiary somatic cell hybrids containing only chromosome 22. Further verification of the gene assignment was made by detection of the human enzyme in tertiary chromosome 22 positive hybrids by Ouchterlony immunodiffusion and rocket immunoelectrophoretic experiments with polyclonal anti-human alpha-L-iduronidase antibodies that were monospecific for the human enzyme. Expression of human enzymatic activity in chromosome 22 positive hybrid lines was markedly reduced; for example, a tertiary hybrid (R-G21-J-15), which contained an average of 1.7 chromosome 22s per cell, only had about 15% of the activity detected in normal diploid fibroblasts. Immunologic studies suggested that the reduced expression was due to abnormal post-translational processing or aggregation (or both) of the human and murine isozymes in these hybrids. Regional assignment of the human structural gene to 22pter----q11 was accomplished by gene dosage studies using diploid human fibroblast lines that were partially monosomic or trisomic for chromosome 22.