Human monochromosome hybrid cell panel characterized by FISH in the JCRB/HSRRB

The human monochromosome hybrid cell panel in the Japanese Collection of Re search Bioresources (JCRB) consists of 23 mouse cell clones, each containin g a different human chromosome (the Y chromosome is not yet included). The panel is currently distributed by the Human Science Research Resources Bank (HSRRB) in Osaka. In order to determine the state of the human chromosomes and to supply the information to investigators, we characterized the cells by fluorescence in-situ hybridization (FISH) with corresponding human chro mosome-specific painting probes, and, in part, by reverse FISH with the hyb rid total DNA hybridized onto human metaphase spreads. Here, we report the frequency of intact human chromosomes maintained in each hybrid and the ret ained subregions of corresponding human chromosomes with relative frequenci es estimated by fluorescent intensity. We used specific painted patterns to classify each hybrid into tentative types with their frequencies showing t he nature of each hybrid and the state of rearrangements. This characteriza tion will provide valuable information to investigators using the panel.