TRANSLIN RECOGNITION SITE SEQUENCES FLANK CHROMOSOME-TRANSLOCATION BREAKPOINTS IN ALVEOLAR RHABDOMYOSARCOMA CELL-LINES

Alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma is characterized by a t(2;13)(q35;q14) chrom osome translocation, which leads to the fusion of the PAX3 and the FKH R genes, The resulting fusion gene encodes a chimeric protein which ha s aberrant transcriptional activity, We report the molecular definitio n of the genomic breakpoints on both derivative chromosomes in one cas e and the derivative chromosome 13 breakpoints in two other cases, The DNA sequences adjacent to the breakpoints on the derivative chromosom e 13 are remarkable for their resemblance to recognition sequences for the protein translin. Gel shift analyses confirm that these sequences bind translin, These findings suggest that translin may not only be i mportant in the genesis of chromosomal translocations in lymphoid mali gnancy, but also in translocations found in solid tumours.