Characterization of a Widely Expressed Gene (LUC7-LIKE; LUC7L) Defining the Centromeric Boundary of the Human α-Globin Domain

We have identified the first gene lying on the centromeric side of the α-globin gene cluster on human 16p13.3. The gene, called 16pHQG;16 (HGMW-approved symbol LUC7L), is widely transcribed and lies in the opposite orientation with respect to the α-globin genes. This gene may represent a mammalian heterochromatic gene, encoding a putative RNA-binding protein similar to the yeast Luc7p subunit of the U1 snRNP splicing complex that is normally required for 5′ splice site selection. To examine the role of the 16pHQG;16 gene in delimiting the extent of the α-globin regulatory domain, we mapped its mouse orthologue, which we found to lie on mouse chromosome 17, separated from the mouse α-cluster on chromosome 11. Establishing the full extent of the human 16pHQG;16 gene has allowed us to define the centromeric limit of the region of conserved synteny around the human α-globin cluster to within an 8-kb segment of chromosome 16.     

Complementation of α-thalassaemia in α-globin Knockout Mice with a 191 kb Transgene Containing the Human α-Globin Locus

alpha-thalassaemia is an inherited blood disorder caused by a decrease in the synthesis of alpha-globin due to mutations in one or both of the alpha-globin genes located on human chromosome 16. A 191 kb transgene derived from a sequenced bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) clone carrying the human alpha-globin gene cluster, together with about 100 kb of sequence upstream of DNase1 hypersensitive site HS-40 and 30 kb downstream of the alpha1-globin gene, was introduced into fertilised mouse oocytes by pronuclear microinjection. Three transgenic founder mice were obtained. Analysis of one transmitting line by fluorescent in situ hybridisation and quantitative PCR demonstrated a single copy integration of the human alpha-globin transgene on chromosome 1. Analysis of haemoglobins from the peripheral blood by cellulose acetate electrophoresis and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) demonstrated synthesis of human alpha-globin to about 36% of the level of each mouse alpha-globin locus. Breeding of transgenic mice with mice heterozygous for a knockout (KO) deletion of both murine alpha-globin genes showed that the human alpha-globin locus restored haemoglobin levels and red cell distribution width to normal in double heterozygous mice and significantly normalised other haematological parameters. Interestingly the human transgene also induced a significant increase in red cell production and haematocrit above wild type values. This is the first report demonstrating complementation of a murine alpha-globin KO mutation by human alpha-globin gene expression from an intact human alpha-globin locus. The transgenic mouse model described in this report should be very useful for the study of human alpha-globin gene regulation and for the development of strategies to down regulate alpha-globin production as a means of ameliorating the severity of beta-thalassaemia.     

Establishment of the mouse chromosome 7 region with homology to the myotonic dystrophy region of human chromosome 19q

A number of genetic markers, including ATP1A3, TGFB, CKMM, and PRKCG, define the genetic region on human chromosome 19 containing the myotonic dystrophy locus. These and a number of other DNA probes have been mapped to mouse chromosome 7 utilizing a mouse Mus domesticus/Mus spretus interspecific backcross segregating for the genetic markers pink-eye dilution (p) and chinchilla (cch). The establishment of a highly syntenic group conserved between mouse chromosome 7 and human chromosome 19q indicates the likely position of the homologous gene locus to the human myotonic dystrophy gene on proximal mouse chromosome 7. In addition, we have mapped the muscle ryanodine receptor gene (Ryr) to mouse chromosome 7 and demonstrated its close linkage to the Atpa-2, Tgfb-1, and Ckmm cluster of genes. In humans, the malignant hyperthermia susceptibility locus (MHS) also maps close to this gene cluster. The comparative mapping data support Ryr as a candidate gene for MHS.     

The human myoglobin gene: a third dispersed globin locus in the human genome.

Human myoglobin is specified by a single gene. Unique sequence DNA probes were isolated from the cloned gene and used to test for the presence of the human myoglobin gene in a series of human rodent somatic cell hybrids containing various complements of human chromosomes. The myoglobin gene cosegregated with human chromosome 22. Somatic cell hybrids containing translocation chromosomes carrying part of chromosome 22 were used to locate the myoglobin gene to the region 22q11----22q13. The myoglobin gene is therefore not linked to the alpha-globin gene cluster on chromosome 16 or the beta-globin cluster on chromosome 11, and represents a third dispersed globin locus in the human genome.     

Evolutionarily plastic regions at human 3p21.3 coincide with tumor breakpoints identified by the "elimination test"

We have previously found with the microcell hybrid-based "elimination test" that human chromosome 3 transferred into murine or human tumor cells regularly lost certain 3p regions during tumor growth in SCID mice. The most common eliminated region, CER1, is approximately 2.4 Mb at 3p21.3. CER1 breakpoints were clustered in approximately 200-kb regions at both telomeric and centromeric borders. We have also shown, earlier, that tumor-related deletions often coincide with human/mouse synteny breakpoints on 3p12-p22. Here we describe the results of a comparative genomic analysis on the CER1 region in Caenorhabditis elegans, Drosophila melanogaster, Fugu rubripes, Gallus gallus, Mus musculus, Rattus norvegicus, and Canis familiaris. First, four independent synteny breaks were found within the CER1 telomeric breakpoint cluster region, comparing human, dog, and chicken genomes, and two independent synteny breaks within the CER1 centromeric breakpoint cluster region, comparing human, mouse, and chicken genomes, suggesting a nonrandom involvement of tumor breakpoint regions in chromosome evolution. Second, both CER1 breakpoint cluster regions show recent tandem duplications (seven Zn finger protein family genes at the telomeric and eight chemokine receptor genes at the centromeric side). Finally, all genes from these regions underwent horizontal evolution in mammals, with formation of new genes and expansion of gene families, which were displayed in the human genome as tandem gene duplications and pseudogene insertions. In contrast the CER1 middle region contained evolutionarily well-conserved solitary genes and a minimal amount of retroposed genes. The coincidence of evolutionary plasticity with CER1 breakpoints may suggest that regional structural instability is expressed in both evolutionary and cancer-associated chromosome rearrangements.     

Human-mouse homologies in the region of the polycystic kidney disease gene (PKD1).

Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (PKD1) is linked to the alpha-globin locus near the telomere of chromosome 16p. We established the existence of a conserved linkage group in mouse by mapping conserved sequences and cDNAs from the region surrounding the PKD1 gene in the mouse genome. Results obtained with the BXD recombinant strain system and somatic cell hybrids show the homologous region to be located on mouse chromosome 17 near the globin pseudogene Hba-ps4, an unprocessed alpha-like globin gene. The markers we mapped are widely distributed over the region known to contain the PKD1 gene, and it is therefore likely that the mouse homologue of PKD1 is also located on mouse chromosome 17.     

A molecular genetic linkage map of mouse chromosome 7

The homology between mouse chromosome 7 and human chromosomes 11, 15, and 19 was examined using interspecific backcross animals derived from mating C3H/HeJ-gld/gld and Mus spretus mice. In an earlier study, we reported on the linkage relationships of 16 loci on mouse chromosome 7 and the homologous relationship between this chromosome and the myotonic dystrophy gene region on human chromosome 19. Segregation analyses were used to extend the gene linkage relationships on mouse chromosome 7 by an additional 21 loci. Seven of these genes (Cyp2a, D19F11S1h, Myod-1, Otf-2, Rnu1p70, Rnu2pa, and Xrcc-1) were previously unmapped in the mouse. Several potential mouse chromosome 7 genes (Mel, Hkr-1, Icam-1, Pvs) did not segregate with chromosome 7 markers, and provisional chromosomal assignments were made. This study establishes a detailed molecular genetic linkage map of mouse chromosome 7 that will be useful as a framework for determining linkage relationships of additional molecular markers and for identifying homologous disease genes in mice and humans.     

CACCC and GATA-1 sequences make the constitutively expressed alpha-globin gene erythroid-responsive in mouse erythroleukemia cells.

Although the human alpha-globin and beta-globin genes are co-regulated in adult life, they achieve the same end by very different mechanisms. For example, a transfected beta-globin gene is expressed in an inducible manner in mouse erythroleukemia (MEL) cells while a transfected alpha-globin gene is constitutively expressed at a high level in induced and uninduced MEL cells. Interestingly, when the alpha-globin gene is transferred into MEL cells as part of human chromosome 16, it is appropriately expressed in an inducible manner. We explored the basis for the lack of erythroid-responsiveness of the proximal regulatory elements of the human alpha-globin gene. Since the alpha-globin gene is the only functional human globin gene that lacks CACCC and GATA-1 motifs, we asked whether their addition to the alpha-globin promoter would make the gene erythroid-responsive in MEL cells. The addition of each of these binding sites to the alpha-globin promoter separately did not result in inducibility in MEL cells. However, when both sites were added together, the alpha-globin gene became inducible in MEL cells. This suggests that erythroid non-responsiveness of the alpha-globin gene results from the lack of erythroid binding sites and is not necessarily a function of the constitutively active, GC rich promoter.     

New regional localisations for HAGH and PGP on human chromosome 16

Summary The chromosomal locations for the electrophoretic markers hydroxyacyl glutathione hydrolase (HAGH) and phosphoglycolate phosphatase (PGP) were examined using a human-mouse hybrid panel of chromosome 16. The assignment for HAGH was confirmed to chromosome 16 using a cell line with chromosome 16 as the only human chromosome. Both HAGH and PGP were present only in cell lines containing human 16p13. This localisation for PGP indirectly places the tightly linked genes for the alpha-globin cluster and adult polycystic kidney disease on 16p13.     

Specific isolation of 3'-terminal exons of human genes by exon trapping.

Exon trapping is a method to functionally clone expressed sequences from genomic DNA. We have previously developed the vector system pETV-SD2, which contains only a splice donor site (SD) followed by a LacZ gene, allowing trapping of internal exons of human genes by blue-white selection. We now describe the adaptation of the same system for the efficient trapping of 3'-terminal exons, by using different RT-PCR primers in a 3' RACE reaction. The addition of a T7 promoter to the RT-PCR products derived from pETV-SD2 allows their amplification in an isothermic amplification reaction called NASBA (nucleic acid sequence-based amplification reaction) and results in a strong signal from amplified 3' exons in addition to a great reduction of non-specific background. As a test for the system, 3' exon trapping was performed using a cosmid containing the alpha-globin gene cluster on chromosome 16. The 3'-terminal exons of the human alpha 1-, zeta 2-, and theta-globin genes were trapped, as well as a correctly spliced and polyadenylated sequence in the 3' flanking region of the alpha 1-globin gene. This exon appears to belong to a previously unidentified gene within the alpha-globin gene cluster. This 3' exon trapping strategy should facilitate the cloning of genes from large genomic regions.     

Localization of the 68,000-Da human neurofilament gene (NF68) using a murine cDNA probe

A recent investigation, using a human genomic probe, has indicated that the 68,000 dalton neurofilament gene (NF68) is on the short arm of chromosome 8. We have used a murine cDNA probe on 65 metaphase spreads in situ to localize the human NF68 gene to 8p21 (20/370 grains; p less than 0.0001). In addition, we have found secondary hybridization sites at the centromeric region of chromosome 2 and the long arm of chromosome 7, which are putative loci for other intermediate filaments.     

The interleukin-4 receptor gene (IL4R) maps to 16p11.2-16p12.1 in human and to the distal region of mouse chromosome 7.

The chromosomal location of both the human and the mouse interleukin-4 receptor (IL4R) genes have been determined. The human gene was localized to 16p11.2-16p12.1 by in situ hybridization and confirmed by Southern blot analysis of DNA from a panel of mouse-human hybrid somatic cell lines. The mouse homolog was positioned in the distal region of chromosome 7 by interspecific backcross analysis. The results suggest that the IL4R locus is unlinked to other members of the hematopoietin receptor family. Interestingly, the position on human chromosome 16 suggests that the IL4R may be a candidate for rearrangements, as 12;16 translocations are often associated with myxoid liposarcomas.     

Stable length polymorphism of up to 260 kb at the tip of the short arm of human chromosome 16

We have completed a long-range restriction map of the terminal region of the short arm of human chromosome 16 (16p13.3) by physically linking a distal genetic locus (alpha-globin) with two recently isolated probes to telomere-associated repeats (TelBam3.4 and TelBam-11). Comparison of 47 chromosomes has revealed major polymorphic length variation in this region: we have identified three alleles in which the alpha-globin genes lie 170 kb, 350 kb, or 430 kb from the telemere. The two most common alleles contain different terminal segments, starting 145 kb distal to the alpha-globin genes. Beyond this boundary these alleles are nonhomologous, yet each contains sequences related to other (different) chromosome termini. This chromosome size polymorphism has probably arisen by occasional exchanges between the subtelomeric regions of nonhomologous chromosomes; analogous length variation is likely to be present at other human telomeres.     

Erbb is linked to the alpha-globin locus on mouse chromosome 11.

A fragment of the human gene for c-erb-B was used to map homologous sequences in mice. Analysis of somatic cell hybrids and recombinant inbred and congenic mouse strains indicated that this gene, designated Erbb, is closely linked to the gene for alpha-globin on mouse chromosome 11. Several genes controlling hematopoietic differentiation map to mouse chromosome 11.     

PARK7, a Novel Locus for Autosomal Recessive Early-Onset Parkinsonism, on Chromosome 1p36

Although the role of genetic factors in the origin of Parkinson disease has long been disputed, several genes involved in autosomal dominant and recessive forms of the disease have been localized. Mutations associated with early-onset autosomal recessive parkinsonism have been identified in the Parkin gene, and recently a second gene, PARK6, involved in early-onset recessive parkinsonism was localized on chromosome 1p35-36. We identified a family segregating early-onset parkinsonism with multiple consanguinity loops in a genetically isolated population. Homozygosity mapping resulted in significant evidence for linkage on chromosome 1p36. Multipoint linkage analysis using MAPMAKER-HOMOZ generated a maximum LOD-score of 4.3, with nine markers spanning a disease haplotype of 16 cM. On the basis of several recombination events, the region defining the disease haplotype can be clearly separated, by > or =25 cM, from the more centromeric PARK6 locus on chromosome 1p35-36. Therefore, we conclude that we have identified on chromosome 1 a second locus, PARK7, involved in autosomal recessive, early-onset parkinsonism.     

The human platelet-derived growth factor alpha chain (PDGFA) gene maps to chromosome 7p22.

The human PDGFA gene has been mapped previously to two different sites on chromosome 7 (7p21----p22 and 7q11.2----q21.1). Using in situ hybridization and human x mouse somatic cell hybrid lines we present data which confirm the localization of PDGFA to the terminal short arm of chromosome 7, at 7p22.