Molecular characterization of ataxia telangiectasia T cell clones

Summary We compared inversions of chromosome 14 in an ataxia telangiectasia clone and in a malignant T cell line (SUPT1). The R-banding chromosome analysis showed a clear difference between the distal breakpoint of the two inversions. Fine mapping of the distal breakpoint in the ataxia telangiectasia inv(14) was performed by in situ hybridization. We conclude that this breakpoint is centromeric to the immunoglobulin heavy chain locus and to the D14S1 anonymous locus. Our results favor the existence of an unknown oncogene in band 14q32.1.     

Polysomy of chromosome 7 is correlated with overexpression of the erbB oncogene in human glioblastoma cell lines

Summary Chromosome analysis in a series of human glioblastoma cell lines (HeRo, HeRo-SV¹, A172, T406, T508, T705) has indicated characteristic changes in the karyotype, the most striking and consistent of which is a significant increase in the copy number of chromosome 7, with up to 8 copies per metaphase. As determined by Spurr et al., chromosome 7 represents the genomic locus for the oncogene erbB (7pter-q22). Therefore, we have compared the number of chromosomes 7 to the levels of expression of the erbB oncogene. Interestingly, in all of them erbB-specific mRNA was found to be increased at levels even higher than expected from the number of chromosomes 7 found. In contrast, in an astrocytoma of slightly lower grade of malignancy (cell line T567), neither polysomy 7 nor significant expression of the erbB oncogene was noted.     

Genetic heterogeneity in tuberous sclerosis

Tuberous sclerosis (TSC) is an autosomal dominant disorder characterized by widespread hamartosis. Preliminary evidence of linkage between the TSC locus and markers on chromosome 9q34 was established, but subsequently disputed. More recently, a putative TSC locus on chromosome 11 has been suggested and genetic heterogeneity seems likely. Here we describe an approach combining multipoint linkage analysis and heterogeneity tests that has enabled us to obtain significant evidence for locus heterogeneity after studying a relatively small number of families. Our results support a model with two different loci independently causing the disease. One locus (TSC1) maps in the vicinity of the Abelson oncogene at 9q34 and a second locus (TSC2) maps in the region of the anonymous DNA marker Lam L7 and the dopamine D2 receptor gene at 11q23.     

The gene for the alpha i1 subunit of human guanine nucleotide binding protein maps near the cystic fibrosis locus.

The gene for the alpha i1 subunit of human guanine nucleotide binding (G) protein was mapped by in situ hybridization to chromosome 7 at band q21. The regional chromosomal location of the human alpha i1 gene was confirmed using human/mouse somatic-cell hybrid lines containing portions of human chromosome 7. Because the alpha i1 gene mapped near the cystic fibrosis locus and because an abnormal G protein might be expected to contribute to the pathophysiology of this disease, the alpha i1 gene was mapped with respect to the cystic fibrosis locus as defined by the Met oncogene and anonymous DNA marker pJ3.11. The location of the alpha i1 gene proved to be distinct from that of the cystic fibrosis locus.     

Chromosomal localization of DBL oncogene sequences

The DBL oncogene was generated by rearrangements involving three discontinuous regions of the human genome. Analyses of panels of human X rodent somatic cell hybrids demonstrated that the DBL proto-oncogene located on the X chromosome (just proximal or distal to bands q26-27.2) underwent recombination at its 5' and 3' ends with sequences derived from chromosomes 3 (p13q-ter) and 16 (p13-q22), respectively. DBL was localized to chromosome Xq27-q28 by in situ hybridization. Another oncogene, MCF2, was previously shown to contain sequences derived from Xq27 as well. Comparison of the restriction maps and nucleotide sequences of genomic and cDNA clones representing the chromosome X-specific sequences of the DBL oncogene and MCF2, taken together with their chromosomal localization, indicates that these oncogenes were derived from the same genetic locus.     

The role of protein elongation factor eEF1A2 in ovarian cancer

Frequent gains of chromosome 20q12-13 in ovarian tumors indicate that at least one important oncogene is found at that locus. One of the genes there is EEF1A2, which maps to 20q13.3 and encodes protein elongation factor eEF1A2. This review will focus on recent evidence indicating that EEF1A2 is an important ovarian oncogene and that the protein elongation network can activate tumorigenesis and inhibit apoptosis.     

7q-and loss of a polymorphism for the met oncogene in a patient with myelofibrosis

The met oncogene is the normal counterpart of a chemically-induced transforming gene. The chromosomal localization of met is 7q21–31. In a patient with myelofibrosis and an interstitial deletion on 7q, we demonstrate that a Taq I polymorphism for the met oncogene is lost in the neoplastic cells, thus indicating that the deletion occuring in the long arm of chromosome 7 involves the met locus.Abbreviations RFLP Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism     

Mouse chromosomal mapping of a murine leukemia virus integration region (Mis-1) first identified in rat thymic leukemia.

We have previously identified a region of genomic DNA which constitutes the site of frequent provirus integration in rat thymomas induced by Moloney murine leukemia virus (Lemay and Jolicoeur, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 81:38-42, 1984). This genetic locus is now designated Mis-1 (Moloney integration site). Cellular sequences homologous to Mis-1 are present in mouse DNA. Using a series of hamster-mouse somatic cell hybrids, we mapped the Mis-1 locus to mouse chromosome 15. Frequent chromosome 15 aberrations have been described in mouse thymomas. Mis-1 represents a putative new oncogene which might be involved in the initiation or maintenance or both of these neoplasms.     

Myc oncogene activation in B and T lymphoid tumours

The chromosome translocations characteristic of certain B lymphoid tumours associate the myc oncogene and immunoglobulin loci. The typical t(12;15) in murine plasmacytomas and analogous t(14;8) in Burkitt lymphomas couple the myc coding region to one of the switch recombination regions within the immunoglobulin heavy (H) chain locus; hence the switch machinery may promote some translocations. Significantly, translocation induces constitutive myc expression, the untranslocated myc allele remaining silent. The predilection for breakpoints near the 5' end of the c-myc gene may reflect selection for altered myc regulation. In most tumours, the stimulatory effect of the H locus context is not understood, but an H locus enhancer participates in some tumours, including one displaying a novel transposition. The variant (6;15) translocations found in about 15% of plasmacytomas involve the myc band and the region of chromosome 6 where the kappa locus lies. The t(6;15) is shown here to represent an exchange between C kappa and a chromosome 15 locus (designated pvt-1) which lies unexpectedly far from c-myc. The association of myc expression with pvt-1 alterations suggest that myc can be activated at a distance. Myc has also been implicated in some T lymphomas by detection of proviral inserts near myc and also, surprisingly, within the pvt-1 locus. Inserts near myc appear to activate its expression via the retroviral enhancer.     

Amplification of a long terminal repeat-like element on the Y chromosome of the platyfish, Xiphophorus maculatus

The platyfish (Xiphophorus maculatus), in which sex chromosomes are evident from stable and predictable inheritance of sex, is one of the best-studied lower vertebrates with respect to sex determination. In order to identify the structural equivalent for this in the karyotype, which does not contain heteromorphic pairs of chromosomes, two sex-linked molecular probes were used for fluorescent in situ hybridization analysis. One probe, derived from the melanoma oncogene locus ONC-Xmrk, stained both the X and the Y chromosome. This cytogenetic analysis mapped the sex-determining locus to the subtelomeric region of a medium-sized telocentric chromosome. Another probe, a repetitive element (XIR), specifically labeled the Y chromosome in metaphase spreads and in interphase nuclei. The sex chromosomes of X. maculatus can be considered to be at an early stage of evolution of gonosomes. Expansion of the XIR repeat is obviously one of the earliest of the molecular events that lead to divergence of the Y chromosome and recombinational isolation of the sex-determining locus. Received: 10 December 1999; in revised form: 20 January 2000 / Accepted: 24 January 2000     

The AKT1 proto-oncogene maps to human chromosome 14, band q32

The human AKT1 gene is the proto-oncogene of the viral oncogene v-akt. The AKT1 gene has been localized to human chromosome 14, band q32, proximal to the heavy-chain immunoglobulin locus (IGHM), by analysis of human-hamster somatic cell hybrids and by in situ hybridization. Chromosome rearrangements of this band which occur in T-lymphoid malignancies and Hodgkin's disease may affect the AKT1 gene.     

Mapping of the dopa decarboxylase gene to the 11A band of the murine genome.

A human DOPA decarboxylase (DDC) cDNA probe of 747 base pairs has been used to map the DDC gene by in situ hybridization on mouse metaphase chromosomes. This result indicates that the gene is located on band 11A, near the erythroblastosis oncogene B (erb b) locus. This provides evidence for a synteny group on mouse chromosome 11 and human chromosome 7.     

Genetic homogeneity of cystic fibrosis.

We studied large Amish/Mennonite/Hutterite kindreds that segregate cystic fibrosis (CF) for linkage between CF and the polymorphic DNA markers pJ3.11 and 7C22 located on chromosome 7. These inbred pedigrees consist of more than 300 members including 30 affected individuals. In these families, linkage between the CF locus and the chromosome 21 marker D21S5 and between CF and the marker at the met oncogene locus on chromosome 7 had been previously indicated. We now report linkage between CF and pJ3.11 (Z = 4.92, theta = 0) and between CF and 7C22 (Z = 3.42, theta = 0). Therefore, CF segregates in these large pedigrees in a manner consistent with data from smaller outbred families with respect to the markers on chromosome 7 closest to CF. These data are consistent with locus homogeneity for the defect causing CF in the populations that have been examined to date.     

Localisation of a dystrophin-related autosomal gene to 6q24 in man,and to mouse chromosome 10 in the region of the dystrophia muscularis (dy) locus

Summary We have localised a dystrophin-related autosomal gene called DMDL (Duchenne muscular dystrophy-like) to human chromosome 6q24 by in situ hybridisation. Using restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis in two mouse species, we have localised the homologous gene Dmdl in the mouse to chromosome 10 proximal to the Myb oncogene. A neuromuscular disease locus dystrophia muscularis (dy) has previously been assigned to this region of mouse chromosome 10.     

Translocation of oncogene c-sis from chromosome 22 to chromosome 11 in a Ewing sarcoma-derived cell line.

Somatic cell hybrids, obtained after fusion of translocation (11;22)-positive Ewing sarcoma cells and Chinese hamster fibroblasts, were assayed for the presence of immunoglobulin C lambda, Philadelphia chromosome breakpoint cluster region, and c-sis oncogene sequences. It was found that c-sis was translocated from chromosome 22 to chromosome 11 in the Ewing sarcoma cells used, indicating that the breakpoint must be proximal to this locus. Moreover, we found that the chromosome 22-linked C lambda and breakpoint cluster region sequences are not translocated. This result confirms an earlier cytogenetic observation that the Ewing sarcoma-associated breakpoint in chromosome 22 is distal to those observed in translocation (8;22)-positive Burkitt lymphoma and in Philadelphia chromosome-positive chronic myeloid leukemia.     

c-Ha-ras-1 oncogene lies between beta-globin and insulin loci on human chromosome 11p

DNA sequence polymorphisms have been used to determine the linear order and recombinational distances separating the Harvey ras 1 oncogene (c-Ha-ras-1), beta-globin, insulin, and parathyroid hormone genes on the short arm of human chromosome 11. Our results indicate that c-Ha-ras-1 is closely linked to both the beta-globin locus (theta = .08 [8 centimorgans], lod score = 5.11) and the insulin locus (theta = .04 [4 centimorgans], lod score = 3.31). Furthermore, the probable order of these loci on chromosome 11p is centromere-parathyroid hormone-beta globin-c-Ha-ras-1-insulin.     

Localization of human adenosine deaminase (ADA) gene sequences to the q12----q13.11 region of chromosome 20 by in situ hybridization

The gene for human adenosine deaminase (ADA), an enzyme constitutively expressed in all tissues investigated so far and deficient in some cases of severe combined immune deficiency, was previously assigned to chromosome 20 by syntenic analysis, using somatic cell hybrids and quantitative enzyme studies on patients with chromosome abnormalities. Attempts at regional localization of ADA through indirect approaches have so far resulted in uncertainties, as well as apparent inconsistencies. In situ hybridization of high-resolution somatic and pachytene chromosomes using a 3H-labeled cDNA probe of the ADA gene localized the gene to 20q12----q13.11. Rearrangements involving this region have been reported in various human hematological malignancies; in this regard, possible implications of the physical proximity of the ADA gene locus to that of SRC, an oncogene previously localized to the same region of chromosome 20, are briefly discussed.