A 3.1-MB YAC CONTIG WITHIN THE WERNER-SYNDROME REGION, ON THE SHORT ARM OF HUMAN-CHROMOSOME-8

The locus for Werner syndrome (WRN) has been localized to human chromo some 8p2-->p12, close to the anonymous marker D8S339. A 3.1-Mb contig of yeast artificial chromosomes (YACs) was assembled around D8S339. Re sults from analyses of somatic cell hybrids, FISH, and physical mappin g suggest the following loci order: tel-NEFL-D8S131-D8Sl339-[D8 S540/G SR]-D8S124-D8S259-D8S87-FGFR1-cen. Close physical linkage between D8S5 40 and GSR was established within a DNA fragment of 200 kb. These two loci are not more than 400kb from D8S339. In addition, D8S339, D8S540, D8S124, and GSR are within 1.1Mb. These data establish a primary phys ical map of the Werner syndrome region and identify useful YAC clones for the isolation of new markers and ofthe corresponding gene.