COMPARATIVE FISH-MAPPING OF VILLIN (VIL) GENE IN RIVER BUFFALO, SHEEPAND GOAT CHROMOSOMES

Two genomic clones of the villin (VIL) gene were independently hybridi zed on river buffalo (Bubalus bubalis, BBU), sheep (Ovis aries, OAR) a nd goat (Capra hircus, CHI) chromosomes by using sequential fluorescen ce in situ hybridization (FISH) and R-banding (RBP- and RBA-banding). Clear hybridization signals revealed that VIL is located in BBU 2q33, OAR 2q33 and CHI 2q33. These chromosomes and chromosome bands are beli eved to be homologous and the VIL locus is the same as that previously found on cattle chromosome 2q43. VIL localization in these three spec ies allows us tentatively to assign all cattle U17 to BBU and CHI 2q a nd to extend the physical map to OAR 2q.