ABSTRACT
We have localized the gene encoding human RNase k6 to within approximately 120 kb on the long (q) arm of chromosome 14 by HAPPY mapping. With this information, the relative positions of the six human RNase A ribonucleases that have been mapped to this locus can be inferred. To further our understanding of the individual lineages comprising the RNase A superfamily, we have isolated and characterized 10 novel genes orthologous to that encoding human RNase k6 from Great Ape, Old World, and New World monkey genomes. Each gene encodes a complete ORF with no less than 86% amino acid sequence identity to human RNase k6 with the eight cysteines and catalytic histidines (H15 and H123) and lysine (K38) typically observed among members of the RNase A superfamily. Interesting trends include an unusually low number of synonymous substitutions (Ks) observed among the New World monkey RNase k6 genes. When considering nonsilent mutations, RNase k6 is a relatively stable lineage, with a nonsynonymous substitution rate of 0.40 x 10(-9) nonsynonymous substitutions/nonsynonymous site/year (ns/ns/yr). These results stand in contrast to those determined for the primate orthologs of the two closely related ribonucleases, the eosinophil-derived neurotoxin (EDN) and eosinophil cationic protein (ECP), which have incorporated nonsilent mutations at very rapid rates (1.9 x 10(-9) and 2.0 x 10(-9) ns/ns/yr, respectively). The uneventful trends observed for RNase k6 serve to spotlight the unique nature of EDN and ECP and the unusual evolutionary constraints to which these two ribonuclease genes must be responding. [The sequence data described in this paper have been submitted to the GenBank data library under accession nos. AF037081-AF037090.]
Subject(s)
Chromosome Mapping/methods , Endoribonucleases/genetics , Evolution, Molecular , Multigene Family/genetics , Ribonuclease, Pancreatic/genetics , Amino Acid Sequence , Animals , Cebidae , Cercopithecidae , Hominidae , Humans , Molecular Sequence Data , Sequence AlignmentABSTRACT
We have mapped 1001 novel sequence-tagged sites on human chromosome 14. The mean spacing between markers is approximately 90 kb, most markers are mapped with a resolution of better than 100 kb, and physical distances are determined. The map was produced using HAPPY mapping, a simple and widely applicable in vitro approach that is analogous to linkage or to radiation hybrid mapping, but that circumvents many of the difficulties and potential artifacts associated with these methods. We show also that the map serves as a robust scaffold for building physical maps using large-insert clones.
Subject(s)
Chromosome Mapping/methods , Chromosomes, Human, Pair 14/genetics , Sequence Tagged Sites , Animals , Cell Line , Cricetinae , Genetic Linkage , Genetic Markers/genetics , Humans , MiceABSTRACT
We have constructed a HAPPY map of the apicomplexan parasite Cryptosporidium parvum. We have placed 204 markers on the 10.4-Mb genome, giving an average marker spacing of approximately 50 kb, with an effective resolution of approximately 40 kb. HAPPY mapping (an in vitro linkage technique based on screening approximately haploid amounts of DNA by the polymerase chain reaction) is fast and accurate and is not subject to the distortions inherent in cloning, meiotic recombination, or hybrid cell formation. In addition, little genomic DNA is needed as a substrate, and the AT content of the genome is largely immaterial, making it an ideal method for mapping otherwise intractable parasite genomes. The map, covering all eight chromosomes, consists of 10 linkage groups, each of which has been chromosomally assigned. We have verified the accuracy of the map by several methods, including the construction of a >140-kb PAC contig on chromosome VI. Less than 1% of our markers detect non-rDNA duplicated sequences.
