Homozygous deletion in a neuroblastoma cell line defined by a high-densitySTS map spanning human chromosome band 1p36

Recent molecular studies have shown a relatively high rate of loss of heter ozygosity (LOH) in neuroblastoma (NB) as well as other types of tumors in h uman chromosome band I p36. To identify candidate tumor suppressor genes in NE, we searched for homozygous deletions in NE cell lines with PCR accordi ng to a high-density sequence tagged site (STS)-content map spanning 1p35-3 6. Among 25 NE cell lines examined, only one cell line, NB-1, showed no sig nal with 27 STSs in a 480 kb region in 1p36.2. The sequence analysis has re vealed that the defective region included seven known genes (E4, KIFIB, SC/ A5, PGD, Cortistatin, DFF45, and PEX14), nine expressed sequence tags (ESTs ), and two microsatellite markers, These genes are related to apoptosis, an ubiquitin-proteasome pathway, a neuronal microtubule-associated motor mole cule, and components of a common translocation machinery. The region betwee n the DFF45 and KIFIB genes was defined as homozygous deletion by Southern blotting. The search in LOH regions with high-density STSs may be useful fo r the isolation and identification of tumor suppressor genes in other tumor s as well as NBs. (C) 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc.