LOCALIZATION OF THE HUMAN UBA52 UBIQUITIN FUSION GENE TO CHROMOSOME BAND 19P13.1-P12

Because of the conservation of the ubiquitin coding sequence and the n umber of transcriptionally active genes and reverse-transcribed pseudo genes, it has not been possible to use ubiquitin cDNA clones to map th e functional ubiquitin genes. The UBB and UBC polyubiquitin genes have previously been mapped by the use of specific intron or 5' flanking s equence probes. In this study, we have used an intron sequence from th e UBA52 gene for chromosome mapping studies. Analysis of somatic cell hybrids containing individual human chromosomes indicated that the UBA 52 gene is located on chromosome 19. In situ hybridization studies con firmed the chromosomal localization but showed two peaks of hybridizat ion: a major one over 19p13.1-p12 and a secondary one over 19q12-q13.1 1. Because the peak of hybridization over 19p13.1-p12 was consistently the strongest in five individuals, it is likely that this is the loca tion of the UBA52 gene. Thus far, three of the four transcriptionally active ubiquitin genes have been assigned to separate chromosomes. (C) 1994 Academic Press, Inc.