ECK, A HUMAN EPH-RELATED GENE, MAPS TO 1P36.1, A COMMON REGION OF ALTERATION IN HUMAN CANCERS

Mouse ech, a member of the EPH gene family, has been mapped to mouse c hromosome 4, The syntenic relationship between this chromosome and hum an chromosome 1 suggests that the human ECK gene maps to the distal sh ort arm of human chromosome 1 (1p), Since this region is frequently de leted or altered in certain tumors of neuroectodermal origin, it is im portant to define the specific chromosomal localization of the human E CK gene, PCR screening of a rodent-human somatic cell hybrid panel by ECR-specific primers showed that ECR is indeed localized to human chro mosome 1, Additional PCR screening of a regional screening panel for c hromosome Ip indicated that ECK is localized to 1p36, distal to FUCA1. Furthermore, fluorescence in situ hybridization analysis with an ECK- specific P1 clone showed that ECK maps proximal to genetic marker D1S2 28, Taken together, the data suggest that ECK maps to 1p36.1, a region that is frequently deleted in neuroblastoma, melanoma, and other neur oectodermal tumors. (C) 1997 Academic Press.