Identification of the duplicated segments in rice chromosomes 1 and 5 by linkage analysis of cDNA markers of known functions

We mapped two loci for ADP-ribosylation factor homologues (ARF1, ARF2) and two loci for cysteine proteinase inhibitors (oryzacystatin-I and -II: OCI, OCII) by linkage analysis of restriction fragment length polymorphism loci in rice (Oryza sativa L.) genomic DNAs using their cDNAs as probes.Oc-1 andArf-2 were found to be closely located to each other on chromosome 1, whileOc-2 andArf-1,both found on chromosome 5, were also located close to each other. The map distances are about 2 cM in both pairs. In each chromosome, theArf locus was located about 27 cM from that of the aldolase gene (Ald-2 in chromosome 1 andAld-1 in chromosome 5). These three genes are in the same order,Ald-Arf-Oc, but in opposite orientations relative to the distal ends of the linkage group. The presence of two sets of three linked genes on chromosomes 1 and 5 strongly suggests a structural similarity of the blocks of the two chromosomes, which probably reflects duplication of the segment. A recent investigation by other workers has shown that these rice blocks correspond to two regions in maize chromosomes 8 and 6, that have previously been shown to share many duplicated nucleotide sequences. It is therefore very likely that the duplication of the region occurred before the divergence of rice and maize during the evolution of the subfamilies of the grasses (Gramineae). In view of a recently discovered possible structural similarity between the small GTP-binding protein superfamily, which includesArf andras proteins, and the cystatin family, the close linkage ofOc andArf loci found in the present study suggests a possible cluster of genes related to the small GTP-binding proteins.