CHROMOSOMAL MAPPING OF HUMAN CDK2, CDK4, AND CDK5 CELL-CYCLE KINASE GENES

Cyclin dependent kinases (CDK's) are kinases that interact with cyclin s and regulate cell division. Genomic clones encoding human CDK2, CDK4 , and CDK5 were obtained and mapped to their respective chromosomal lo ci using fluorescence in situ hybridization on human lymphocyte metaph ase spreads. Interestingly, CDK2 and CDK4 were located at the same pos ition, 12q13, and CDK5 was mapped to 7q36. 12q13 has been shown to be associated with chromosome alterations such as amplifications and tran slocations in solid tumors. 7q36 does not appear to be a major site of chromosome alterations in tumors. As CDK2 and CDK4 appear to be impor tant in regulating the human cell cycle, it is possible that the alter ations of the 12q13 locus in tumors may involve changes in the regulat ion of CDK2 and CDK4 genes.