Chromosomal localization of three human poly(A)-binding protein genes and four related pseudogenes

In humans, the poly(A)-binding proteins (PABPs) comprise a small nuclear is oform and a conserved gene family that displays at least three functional p roteins : PABP1, inducible PABP (iPABP), and PABP3, plus four pseudogenes ( 1, 2, 3, and PABP4). In situ hybridization of PABP3 cDNA as the probe on me taphasic chromosomes have revealed five possible loci for this gene family at 2q21-q22, 13q11-q12, 12q13.3-q15, 8q22, and 3q24-q25. Amplifications of specific DNA fragments from a human-rodent somatic cell hybrid panel have a llowed us to associate PABP1 and PABP3 with 8q22 and 13q11-q12, respectivel y. The iPABP gene has been as signed to chromosome . This result, compared with radiation hybrid database information, strengthens the location of thi s gene to 1p32-p36. The pseudogenes PABP4, 1, and 2 have been assigned to c hromosomes 15, 4, and 14, respectively. Three loci detected on chromosome s preads are not associated with any amplified fragment. They might represent other related PABP genes not yet identified.