The zebrafish fth1, slc3a2, men1, pc, fgf3 and cycd1 genes define two regions of conserved synteny between linkage group 7 and human chromosome 11q13

In addition to being an excellent model system for studying vertebrate deve lopment, the zebrafish has become a great tool for gene discovery by mutati onal analysis. The recent availability of the zebrafish EST database and ra diation hybrid mapping panels has dramatically expanded the framework for g enomic research in this species. Developing comparative maps of the zebrafi sh and human genomes is of particular importance for zebrafish mutagenesis studies in which human orthologs are sought for zebrafish genes. However, o nly partial cDNA sequences are determined routinely for mapped ESTs, leavin g the identity of the EST in question. It previously had been reported that zebrafish linkage group 7 shares conserved synteny with human chromosome 1 1q13. In an effort to further define this relationship, five full-length ze brafish cDNAs, fth1, slc3a2, prkri, cd81, and pc, as well as one putative h uman gene, DBX were identified and their map positions ascertained. These s ix genes, along with men1, fgf3 and cycd1 define two regions of conserved s ynteny between linkage group 7 and 11q13. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. Al l rights reserved.