PRESENCE OF AN EXPRESSED BETA-TUBULIN GENE (TUBB) IN THE HLA CLASS-I REGION MAY PROVIDE THE GENETIC-BASIS FOR HLA-LINKED MICROTUBULE DYSFUNCTION

An expressed beta-tubulin gene (TUBB) has previously been localized to chromosome region 6pter-p21 in man. By using a panel of deletion muta nt cell lines and radiation-reduced hybrids containing fragments of ch romosome 6, the TUBB locus could be mapped to the HLA class I region a t 6p21.3. A long range restriction map in eluding TUBB and several HLA class I genes was then generated by rotating field gel electrophoresi s. The results show that TUBB maps to a segment 170-370 kb telomeric o f HLA-C. This location suggests that a mutation at the TUBB locus coul d be the cause for certain forms of HLA-linked microtubule dysfunction , including immotile cilia syndrome.