Assignment of the human gene for β-microseminoprotein (MSMB) to chromosome 10 and demonstration of related genes in other vertebrates

The gene for β-microseminoprotein MSMB has been studied by DNA hybridization and molecular cloning techniques. Comparative analysis of restriction endonuclease digests of the cloned gene and of leukocyte DNA strongly suggested that the gene is present in a single copy in the haploid human genome. By Southern blot analysis of DNA from somatic cell hybrids, the gene was assigned to chromosome 10. The coding nucleotides of the human gene are separated into four exons by relatively large introns. A related gene might be present in other mammals, birds, and amphibians as revealed by DNA hybridization under conditions of low stringency.