PAC CLONE CONTAINING THE HMGI(Y) GENE SPANS THE BREAKPOINT OF A 6P21 TRANSLOCATION IN A UTERINE LEIOMYOMA CELL-LINE

Akin to the HMGI-C rearrangements observed in benign solid tumors with 12q14-15 abnormalities, the HMGI(Y) gene has been assumed to play a c rucial role in tumors with 6p21 abnormalities. Fluorescence in situ hy bridization (FISH) studies using a PAC clone containing the HMGI(Y) ge ne as a molecular probe have been performed on a cell line from a uter ine leiomyoma with a complex translocation involving chromosomal band 6p21.3, The results revealed that the breakpoint mapped within the PAC clone as reflected by signals on the normal chromosome 6 and both der ivative chromosomes I and 14. Thus, the breakpoint was located within the HMGI(Y) gene or its close vicinity. These findings support the ide a that HMGI(Y) rearrangements are causally related to the origin of ut erine leiomyomas with 6p21 abnormalities. (C) 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.