CHROMOSOMAL LOCALIZATION OF 3 HUMAN DUAL-SPECIFICITY PHOSPHATASE GENES (DUSP4, DUSP6, AND DUSP7)

Mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase phosphatases constitute a growi ng family of dual specificity phosphatases thought to play a role in t he dephosphorylation and inactivation of MAP kinases and are therefore likely to be important in the regulation of diverse cellular processe s such as proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis, For this reas on it has been suggested that MAP kinase phosphatases may be tumor sup pressors. We have determined the chromosomal locations of three human dual specificity phosphatase genes by fluorescence irt situ hybridizat ion and radiation hybrid mapping. The genes were localized to three di fferent chromosomes, MKP2 (DUSP4) to 8p11-p12, MKP3 (DUSP6) to 12q22-q 23, and MKPX (DUSP7) to 3p21. This will allow tile potential roles of these genes in disease processes to be evaluated. (C) 1997 Academic Pr ess.