RPA2, A GENE FOR THE 32 KDA SUBUNIT OF REPLICATION PROTEIN-A ON CHROMOSOME 1P35-36, IS NOT MUTATED IN PATIENTS WITH FAMILIAL MELANOMA LINKED TO CHROMOSOME 1P36

Although some cases of dysplastic naevi (DN) and familial melanoma hav e been linked to anonymous markers on chromosome 1p36, the gene has no t been identified. A candidate gene, RPA2, which codes for the 32 kDa subunit of replication protein A, is located in the 1p35-36 region. We examined the RPA2 gene in seven lymphoblastoid cell lines from member s of melanoma-prone families linked to chromosome 1p36. Southern and N orthern blot analyses showed the DNA and RNA bands were of normal size and intensity. DNA sequencing demonstrated no nucleotide alterations in the RPA2 cDNA. Western blot analysis exhibited normal electrophoret ic migration and intensity of the RPA2 protein. These results indicate that alterations do not occur in the RPA2 gene in these DN/familial m elanoma families linked to chromosome 1p36. (C) 1998 Rapid Science Ltd .