Physical and transcriptional map of a 3-Mb region of mouse chromosome 1 containing the gene for the neural tube defect mutant loop-tail (Lp)

The Lp mouse mutant provides a model for the severe human neural tube defect (NTD), cranio-rachischisis. To identify the Lp gene, a positional cloning approach has been adopted. Previously, linkage analysis in a large intraspecific backcross was used to map the Lp locus to distal mouse chromosome 1. Here we report a detailed physical map of this region. The interval surrounding Lp has been cloned in a yeast artificial chromosome (YAC) contig consisting of 63 clones spanning approximately 3.2 Mb. Fifty sequence tagged sites (STSs) have been used to construct the contig and establish marker order across the interval. Based on the high level of conserved synteny between distal mouse chromosome 1 and human 1q21-q24, many of these STSs were designed from expressed sequences identified by cross-screening human and mouse databases of expressed sequence tags. Added to other known genes in the region, a total of 29 genes were located and ordered within the contig. Seven novel polymorphisms were identified within the region, allowing refinement of the genetic map and a reduction in the size of the physical interval containing the Lp gene. The Lp interval, between D1Mit113 and Tagln2, can be spanned by two nonchimeric overlapping YACs that define a physical distance of approximately 1 Mb. Within this region, 10 potential candidate genes have been mapped. The materials and genes described here will provide a resource for the identification and further study of the mutated Lp gene that causes this severe neural tube defect and will provide candidates for other defects known to map to the homologous region on human chromosome 1q.     

A physical map with yeast artificial chromosome (YAC) clones covering 63% of the 12 rice chromosomes.

A new YAC (yeast artificial chromosome) physical map of the 12 rice chromosomes was constructed utilizing the latest molecular linkage map. The 1439 DNA markers on the rice genetic map selected a total of 1892 YACs from a YAC library. A total of 675 distinct YACs were assigned to specific chromosomal locations. In all chromosomes, 297 YAC contigs and 142 YAC islands were formed. The total physical length of these contigs and islands was estimated to 270 Mb which corresponds to approximately 63% of the entire rice genome (430 Mb). Because the physical length of each YAC contig has been measured, we could then estimate the physical distance between genetic markers more precisely than previously. In the course of constructing the new physical map, the DNA markers mapped at 0.0-cM intervals were ordered accurately and the presence of potentially duplicated regions among the chromosomes was detected. The physical map combined with the genetic map will form the basis for elucidation of the rice genome structure, map-based cloning of agronomically important genes, and genome sequencing.     

Construction of YAC Contigs on Rice Chromosome 5

A physical map of rice chromosome 5 was constructed with yeastartificial chromosome (YAC) clones along a high-resolution molecularlinkage map carrying 118 DNA markers distributed over 123.7cM of genomic DNA. YAC clones have been identified by colonyand Southern hybridization for 105 restriction fragment lengthpolymorphism (RFLP) markers and by polymerase chain reaction(PCR) screening for 8 sequence-tagged site (STS) markers and5 randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers. Of 458YACs, 235 individual YACs with an average insert length of 350kb were selected and ordered on chromosome 5 from the YAC library.Forty-eight contigs covering nearly 21 Mb were formed on thechromosome 5; the longest one was 6 cM and covered 1.5 Mb. Thelength covered with YAC clones corresponded to 62% of the totallength of chromosome 5. There were many multicopy sequencesof expressed genes on chromosome 5. The distribution of manycopies of these expressed gene sequences was determined by YACSouthern hybridization and is discussed. A physical map withthese characteristics provides a powerful tool for elucidationof genome structure and extraction of useful genetic informationin rice.     

A clone contig of 12q24.3 encompassing the distal hereditary motor neuropathy type II gene

We previously assigned the disease locus for autosomal dominant hereditary motor neuropathy type II (distal HMN II) within a 13-cM interval at chromosome 12q24.3. We constructed a physical map of the distal HMN II region based on yeast artificial chromosomes (YACs), P1 artificial chromosomes (PACs), and bacterial artificial chromosomes (BACs) using an STS content mapping approach. The contig contains 26 YAC, 15 PAC, and 60 BAC clones and covers a physical distance of approximately 5 Mb. A total of 99 STS markers, including 25 known STSs and STRs, 49 new STSs generated from clone end-fragments, 20 ESTs, and 5 known genes, were located on the contig. This physical map provides a valuable resource for mapping genes and markers located within the distal HMN II region and facilitates the positional cloning of the distal HMN II gene.     

A physical map of the 20q12-q13.1 region associated with type 2 diabetes

Several recent genetic studies have suggested linkage of Type 2 diabetes (non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus) susceptibility to a region of chromosome 20q12-q13.1. To facilitate the identification and cloning of a diabetes susceptibility gene(s) in this region, we have constructed correlated radiation hybrid and YAC/BAC contig physical maps of the region. A high-resolution radiation hybrid map encompassing 9.5 Mb between the PLC and the CEBPB genes was constructed using 68 markers: 25 polymorphic markers, 15 known genes, 21 ESTs, and 7 random genomic sequences. The physical order of the polymorphic markers within this radiation hybrid map is consistent with published genetic maps. A YAC/BAC contig that gives continuous coverage between PLC and CEBPB was also constructed. This contig was constructed from 24 YACs, 34 BACs, and 1 P1 phage clone onto which 71 markers were mapped: 23 polymorphic markers, 12 genes, 24 ESTs, and 12 random genomic sequences. The radiation hybrid map and YAC/BAC physical map enable precise mapping of newly identified transcribed sequences and polymorphic markers that will aid in linkage and linkage disequilibrium studies and facilitate identification and cloning of candidate Type 2 diabetes susceptibility genes residing in 20q12-q13.1.     

Mapping human chromosomes by walking with sequence-tagged sites from end fragments of yeast artificial chromosome inserts.

Sequence-tagged sites (STSs) derived from end fragments of chromosome-specific yeast artificial chromosomes (YACs) can facilitate the assembly of an overlapping YAC/STS map. Contigs form rapidly by iteratively screening YAC collections with end-fragment STSs from YACs that have not yet been detected by any previous STS. The map is rendered rapidly useful during its assembly by incorporating supplementary STSs from genes and genetic linkage probes with known locations. Methods for the systematic development and testing of the end-fragments STSs are given here, and a group of 100 STSs is presented for the X chromosome. The mapping strategy is shown to be successful in simulations with portions of the X chromosome already largely mapped into overlapping YACs by other means.     

A long-range physical map of human Chromosome 21q22.1 band from the YAC continuum

The human Chromosome (Chr) 21q22.1 region contains several genes for cytokines and neurotransmitters and the gene for superoxide dismutase (mutant forms of which can cause familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis). A region of approximately 5.8 Mb encompassing D21S82 and the glycinamide ribonucleotide transformylase (GART) loci was covered by overlapping YAC clones, which were contiguously ordered by clone walking with sequence-tagged site (STSs). A total of 76 markers, including 29 YAC end-specific STSs, were unambiguously ordered in this 5.8-Mb region, and the average interval between markers was 76 kb. Restriction maps of the YAC clones with rare-cutting enzymes were simultaneously prepared, and the restriction sites were aligned to obtain a consensus restriction map of the proximal region of the 21q22.1 band. The restriction map made from 44 overlapping YACs contains 54 physically assigned STSs. By integrating the consensus map of the adjacent 1.8-Mb region, we obtained a fine physical map spanning 6.5 Mb of human Chr 21q22.1. This map contains 24 precisely positioned end-specific STSs and 12 NotI-linking markers. More than 39 potential CpG islands were identified in this region and were found to be unevenly distributed. This physical map and the YACs should be useful as a reference map and as a resource for further structural analysis of the Giemsa-negative band (R-band) of Chr 21q22.1. Received: 1 September 1995 / Accepted: 21 November 1995     

Physical mapping of the rice genome with YAC clones

Construction of a rice physical map covered by YAC clones which have been arranged over half of the genome length is presented here. A total of 1285 RFLP and RAPD markers almost evenly distributed on the rice genetic map could select 2974 YAC clones and 2443 clones of them were located on their original positions. Rice YACs carrying 350 kb average insert fragments of 2443 clones could cover 222 megabase length of the rice genome, corresponding to 52% of the whole genome size (4.3 Mb). Chromosome landing with many YAC clones on the high-density genetic map loci efficiently integrated the genetic map with a physical map. This is the first step to generate a comprehensive genome map of rice. An integrated genome map should be an indispensable tool to figure out genome structure as well as to clone trait genes by map-based cloning.     

Closing in on the Rieger syndrome gene on 4q25: mapping translocation breakpoints within a 50-kb region.

Rieger syndrome (RGS) is an autosomal dominant disorder of morphogenesis affecting mainly the formation of the anterior eye chamber and of the teeth. RGS has been localized to human chromosome 4q25 by linkage to epidermal growth factor (EGF). We have constructed a detailed physical map and a YAC contig of the genomic region encompassing the EGF locus. Using FISH, several YACs could be shown to cross the breakpoint in two independent RGS patients with balanced 4q translocations. Alu- and LINE-fragmentation of a 2.4-Mb YAC generated a panel of shorter YACs ranging in size from 2.4 Mb to 75 kb. Several fragmentation YACs were subcloned in cosmids, which were mapped to specific subregions of the original YAC by hybridization to the fragmentation panel to further refine the localization of the translocation breakpoints, allowing mapping of the breakpoints to within the most-telomeric 200 kb of the original 2.4-Mb YAC. FiberFISH of cosmids located in this 200-kb region mapped the two translocation breakpoints within a 50-kb region approximately 100-150 kb centromeric to D4S193, significantly narrowing down the candidate region for RGS. The mapping data and resources reported here should facilitate the identification of a gene implicated in Rieger syndrome.     

Physical Mapping of a Commonly Deleted Region, the Site of a Candidate Tumor Suppressor Gene, at 12q22 in Human Male Germ Cell Tumors

A candidate tumor suppressor gene (TSG) site at 12q22 characterized by a high frequency of loss of heterozygosity (LOH) and a homozygous deletion has previously been reported in human male germ cell tumors (GCTs). In a detailed deletion mapping analysis of 67 normal-tumor DNAs utilizing 20 polymorphic markers mapped to 12q22–q24, we identified the limits of the minimal region of deletion at 12q22 between D12S377 (proximal) and D12S296 (distal). We have constructed a YAC contig map of a 3-cM region of this band between the proximal marker D12S101 and the distal marker D12S346, which contained the minimal region of deletion in GCTs. The map is composed of 53 overlapping YACs and 3 cosmids onto which 25 polymorphic and nonpolymorphic sequence-tagged sites (STSs) were placed in a unique order. The size of the minimal region of deletion was approximately 2 Mb from overlapping, nonchimeric YACs that spanned the region. We also developed a radiation hybrid (RH) map of the region between D12S101 and D12S346 containing 17 loci. The consensus order developed by RH mapping is in good agreement with the YAC STS-content map order. The RH map estimated the distance between D12S101 and D12S346 to be 246 cR₈₀₀₀and the minimal region of deletion to be 141 cR₈₀₀₀. In addition, four genes that were previously mapped to 12q22 have been excluded as candidate genes. The leads gained from the deletion mapping and physical maps should expedite the isolation and characterization of the TSG at 12q22.     

Walking, Cloning, and Mapping with YACs in 3q27: Localization of Five ESTs Including Three Members of the Cystatin Gene Family and Identification of CpG Islands

Using yeast artificial chromosomes, we have generated a high-resolution physical map for 2.7 Mb of human chromosomal region 3q27. The YAC clones group into three contigs, one of which has also been linked to the CEPH YAC contig map of human chromosome 3. Fluorescencein situhybridization has been used to order the contigs on the chromosome and to estimate the distance between them. Expressed sequence tags for five genes, including three members of the cystatin gene family and a gene thought to be involved in B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma, have been placed within the YAC contigs, and 12 putative CpG islands have been identified. These YACs provide a useful resource to complete the physical mapping of 3q27 and to begin identification and characterization of further genes that are located there.     

Walking, cloning, and mapping with yeast artificial chromosomes: a contig encompassing D21S13 and D21S16.

Chromosome 21 has often been used as a model system for the development of genome mapping and cloning strategies in humans. In this report methods for systematic chromosome walking, cloning, and mapping are exemplified in the construction of a 1.5-Mb yeast artificial chromosome (YAC) contig encompassing and extending 400 kb beyond each of the genetic loci D21S13 and D21S16. Isolation of insert-terminal sequences from YACs in this contig provides a set of closely spaced physical markers. These have been used to generate a long-range genomic restriction map.     

High-resolution, human–bovine comparative mapping based on a closed YAC contig spanning the bovine mh locus

A closed YAC contig spanning the mh locus was assembled by STS content mapping with seven microsatellite markers, eight genes or EST, and nine STS corresponding to YAC ends. The contig comprises 27 YACs, has an average depth of 4.3 YACs, and spans an estimated 1.2 Mb. A linkage map was constructed based on five of the microsatellite markers anchored to the contig and shown to span 7 cM, yielding a ratio of 160 kb/1 cM for the corresponding chromosome region. Comparative mapping data indicate that the constructed contig spans an evolutionary breakpoint connecting two chromosome segments that are syntenic but not adjacent in the human. Consolidation of human gene order by means of whole genome radiation hybrids and its comparison with the bovine order as inferred from the contig confirm conservation of gene order within segments. Received: 6 August 1998 / Accepted: 28 October 1998