Assignment of the bovine uridine monophosphate synthase gene to the bovine Chromosome region 1q34-36 by FISH

The BUMPS gene has been chromosomally assigned by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), combined with plotting of the resulting signals in histograms. In three experiments a peak on Chromosome (Chr) 1q34-36 could be observed.     

Chromosome localization of the human oncogene INT1 to 12q13 by in situ hybridization

The human oncogene INT1 has been mapped to chromosome band 12q13 by in situ hybridization. The precise localization of this gene is of particular interest, since the region 12q13----q14 has been reported to be involved in chromosomal rearrangements in lipomas, myxoid liposarcomas, pleomorphic adenomas, and myomas. The involvement of this region in both benign and malignant tumors suggests a common pathogenetic pathway in which changes affecting INT1 may be an important step.     

Mapping of the calcium-sensing receptor gene (CASR) to human Chromosome 3q13.3-21 by fluorescence in situ hybridization,and localization to rat Chromosome 11 and mouse Chromosome 16

The calcium-sensing receptor (CASR), a member of the G-protein coupled receptor family, is expressed in both parathyroid and kidney, and aids these organs in sensing extracellular calcium levels. Inactivating mutations in the CASR gene have been described in familial hypocalciuric hypercalcemia (FHH) and neonatal severe hyperparathyroidism (NSHPT). Activating mutations in the CASR gene have been described in autosomal dominant hypoparathyroidism and familial hypocalcemia. The human CASR gene was mapped to Chromosome (Chr) 3q13.3-21 by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). By somatic cell hybrid analysis, the gene was localized to human Chr 3 (hybridization to other chromosomes was not observed) and rat Chr 11. By interspecific backcross analysis, the Casr gene segregated with D16Mit4 on mouse Chr 16. These findings extend our knowledge of the synteny conservation of human Chr 3, rat Chr 11, and mouse Chr 16.     

Chromosomal localization of the human placental lactogen-growth hormone gene cluster to 17q22-24.

Recombinant plasmid HCS-pBR322 containing a 550-base-pair (bp) insert of cDNA to human placental lactogen (hPL) mRNA was 3H-labeled by nick translation and hybridized in situ to human chromosome preparations in the presence of 10% dextran sulfate. A high percentage of cells (80%) were found to exhibit label on the distal end of the long arm of chromosome 17. Silver grains on this region constituted 25.5% of all labeled sites, allowing assignment of the hPL and growth hormone (hGH) genes, which have over 90% nucleotide homology in their coding sequences, to 17q22-24. A gene copy number experiment showed that both genes are present in approximately three copies per haploid genome.     

Isolation and analysis of the gene encoding peripheral myelin protein zero

We have isolated the gene encoding the Schwann cell glycoprotein P0, the major structural protein of the peripheral myelin sheath. In rats and mice, this gene is split into six exons distributed over 7 kb of DNA. The segregation of these exons is consistent with the functional segregation of the P0 protein into extracellular, membrane-spanning, and cytoplasmic domains. We find that the P0 extracellular domain is similar in structure to a single immunoglobulin variable region domain. In contrast to prototypical immunoglobulin domains, however, this P0 domain is encoded by two exons, the partitioning of which provides genetic evidence for the evolution of immunoglobulin-related domains from an ancestral half-domain. We also describe procedures for transfection of cultures of nontransformed rat Schwann cells and use these procedures to show that the Schwann cell-specific expression of the P0 gene is controlled by cis-acting elements localized upstream of exon I.     

Linkage of Familial Schizophrenia to Chromosome 13q32

Over the past 4 years, a number of investigators have reported findings suggestive of linkage to schizophrenia, with markers on chromosomes 13q32 and 8p21, with one recent study by Blouin et al. reporting significant linkage to these regions. As part of an ongoing genome scan, we evaluated microsatellite markers spanning chromosomes 8 and 13, for linkage to schizophrenia, in 21 extended Canadian families. Families were analyzed under autosomal dominant and recessive models, with broad and narrow definitions of schizophrenia. All models produced positive LOD scores with markers on 13q, with higher scores under the recessive models. The maximum three-point LOD scores were obtained under the recessive-broad model: 3.92 at recombination fraction (theta).1 with D13S793, under homogeneity, and 4.42 with alpha=.65 and straight theta=0 with D13S793, under heterogeneity. Positive LOD scores were also obtained, under all models, for markers on 8p. Although a maximum two-point LOD score of 3.49 was obtained under the dominant-narrow model with D8S136 at straight theta=0.1, multipoint analysis with closely flanking markers reduced the maximum LOD score in this region to 2. 13. These results provide independent significant evidence of linkage of a schizophrenia-susceptibility locus to markers on 13q32 and support the presence of a second susceptibility locus on 8p21.