HIGH-RESOLUTION GENOMIC MAPPING OF THE 3 HUMAN REPLICATION PROTEIN-A GENES (RPA1, RPA2, AND RPA3)

Human replication protein A (RPA) is a three-subunit protein that play s a central role in eukaryotic DNA replication, homologous recombinati on, and excision repair. We have previously reported the cloning and b acterial overexpression of the three RPA genes and have mapped them to chromosome 1 (RPA2), chromosome 7 (RPA3), and chromosome 17 (RPA1). W e have now obtained yeast strains with artificial chromosomes carrying the three human RPA genes and report the more detailed genomic mappin g of RPA. RPA1 was mapped to chromosome 17p13.3 using a combination of PCR amplification of somatic cell hybrids and radiation hybrids conta ining chromosome 17 fragments. RPA2 was mapped to chromosome 1p35 by P CR amplification of somatic cell hybrids of chromosome 1 and by fluore scence in situ hybridization. RPA3 was mapped to chromosome 7p22 by So uthern analysis and PCR amplification of somatic cell hybrids of chrom osome 7 as well as fluorescence in situ hybridization. Since RPA is an essential component of major metabolic events affecting DNA, the phys ical mapping of the genes for it may help elucidate the biochemical ba sis of genetic disorders involving DNA metabolism. (C) 1994 Academic P ress, Inc.