CYTOSOLIC PHOSPHOLIPASE A(2) GENE IN HUMAN AND RAT - CHROMOSOMAL LOCALIZATION AND POLYMORPHIC MARKERS

We report the chromosomal localization and a simple sequence repeat (S SR) in the cytosolic phospholipase A(2) (cPLA(2)) gene in both human a nd rat. A (CA)(18) repeat in the promoter of the rat gene was determin ed to exhibit length polymorphism when analyzed using the polymerase c hain reaction (PCR) in 19 different inbred rat strains. Genotyping for this marker in 234 Fz progeny of a SHR x BN intercross mapped the gen e to rat chromosome 13. Using a PCR strategy, a fragment of the promot er for the human gene was isolated, and a (CA)(18) repeat was identifi ed. Since this marker displayed a low heterozygosity index, we also id entified a mononucleotide repeat in the promoter for cPLA(2) that disp layed a polymorphism information content value of 0.76. The human gene was mapped using fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) to chromos ome 1q25. Of interest, the gene encoding the enzyme prostaglandin-endo peroxide synthase 2 (cyclooxygenase-2), which acts on the arachidonic acid product of cPLA(2), was previously localized to this same chromos omal region, raising the possibility of coordinate regulation. Identif ication of intragenic markers may facilitate studies of polymorphic va riants of these genes as candidates for disorders in which perturbatio ns of the eicosanoid cascade may play a role. (C) 1995 Academic Press, Inc.