Characterization and chromosomal localization of the chicken avidin gene family

Chicken avidin is a biotin-binding protein expressed under inflammation in several chicken tissues and in the oviduct after progesterone induction. Th e gene encoding avidin belongs to a family that has been shown to include m ultiple genes homologous to each other, The screening and chromosomal local ization studies performed to reveal the structure and organization of the c omplete avidin gene family is described. The avidin gene family is arranged in a single cluster within a 27-kb genomic region. The cluster is located on the sex chromosome Z on band q21, The organization of the genes was dete rmined and two novel avidin-related genes, AVR6 and AVR7, were cloned and s equenced.