BMP-1 SUBLOCALIZATION ON HUMAN-CHROMOSOME-8 - MOLECULAR ANATOMY AND ORTHOPEDIC IMPLICATIONS

Bone morphogenetic proteins are capable of inducing mesenchymal tissue to form mature bone. Bone morphogenetic protein 1 (BMP-1) has a struc ture unique from the other bone morphogenetic proteins and may be invo lved in activation of other bone morphogenetic proteins. Localization of the human BMP-1 gene to chromosome 8 led to its consideration as a candidate gene for Langer-Giedion syndrome. Individuals with Langer-Gi edion syndrome (also known as trichorhinophalangeal syndrome Type II) exhibit several skeletal abnormalities, including multiple exostoses a nd cone-shaped epiphyses of the hands and feet. The genetic locus resp onsible for this disease has been localized to the long arm of human c hromosome 8 at 8q24.1. Somatic-cell hybrid and molecular biology techn iques were used to sublocalize the BMP-1 gene to the short arm of chro mosome 8 within the 8p22-cen region. Although this locus falls outside the Langer-Giedion syndrome region, and therefore excludes BMP-1 as a candidate gene for this disorder, BMP-1 gene sublocalization establis hes a chromosomal landmark for evaluating other possible disease assoc iations with BMP-1.