The human E48 antigen, highly homologous to the murine Ly-6 antigen ThB, is a GPI-anchored molecule apparently involved in keratinocyte cell-cell adhesion.

The E48 antigen, a putative human homologue of the 20-kD protein present in desmosomal preparations of bovine muzzle, and formerly called desmoglein III (dg4), is a promising target antigen for antibody-based therapy of squamous cell carcinoma in man. To anticipate the effect of high antibody dose treatment, and to evaluate the possible biological involvement of the antigen in carcinogenesis, we set out to molecularly characterize the antigen. A cDNA clone encoding the E48 antigen was isolated by expression cloning in COS cells. Sequence analysis revealed that the clone contained an open reading frame of 128 amino acids, encoding a core protein of 13,286 kD. Database searching showed that the E48 antigen has a high level of sequence similarity with the mouse ThB antigen, a member of the Ly-6 antigen family. Phosphatidylinositol-specific (PI-specific) phospholipase-C treatment indicated that the E48 antigen is glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored (GPI-anchored) to the plasma membrane. The gene encoding the E48 antigen is a single copy gene, located on human chromosome 8 in the 8q24-qter region. The expression of the gene is confined to keratinocytes and squamous tumor cells. The putative mouse homologue, the ThB antigen, originally identified as an antigen on cells of the lymphocyte lineage, was shown to be highly expressed in squamous mouse epithelia. Moreover, the ThB expression level is in keratinocytes, in contrast to that in lymphocytes, not mouse strain related. Transfection of mouse SV40-polyoma transformed mouse NIH/3T3 cells with the E48 cDNA confirmed that the antigen is likely to be involved in cell-cell adhesion.

t(7;12)(q36;p13) and t(7;12)(q32;p13)--translocations involving ETV6 in children 18 months of age or younger with myeloid disorders.

Our retrospective karyotype review revealed two rare recurrent translocations affecting ETV6 (TEL): t(7;12)(q36;p13) and t(7;12)(q32;p13). Five patients with a t(7;12) were from a group of 125 successfully karyotyped pediatric patients enrolled in consecutive clinical AML trials of the Dutch Childhood Leukemia Study Group over a period of 7 years. During a search of available cytogenetic databases, we found 7q and 12p abnormalities in two additional Dutch patients and in three participants in Pediatric Oncology Group trials. A del(12p) had been initially identified in four of these patients and re-examination of the original karyograms revealed a t(7;12)(q36;p13) in two instances and a probable t(7;12) in the other two. FISH confirmed the presence of a t(7;12)(q36;p13) in the latter. Most (n = 7) also had trisomy 19. The t(7;12)(q36;p13) (n = 9) was more common than the t(7;12)(q32;p13) (n = 1). These subtle translocations were found only in children 18 months of age or younger. A literature search revealed that the t(7;12) with break-points at 7q31-q36 and 12p12-p13 had been reported in six children with myeloid disorders and in two with acute lymphoblastic leukemia; all were 12 months of age or younger. Only two of the 17 for whom survival data were available, were alive after at least 22 months of continuous complete remission. Our findings suggest that ETV6 rearrangements due to a t(7;12) may play an adverse role in myeloid disorders in children 18 months of age or younger. Therefore, children in this age group with myeloid disorders should be screened for both MLL and ETV6 rearrangements.

Identification of a human heart FABP pseudogene located on chromosome 13.

The fatty acid-binding proteins (FABPs) constitute a conserved group of cytosolic low molecular mass proteins, which consists of several types: liver, heart, myelin, epidermal, adipocyte, brain, intestinal and ileal type. The FABP gene structure is well conserved during evolution and exhibits a four-exon/three-intron structure. In the past, multiple hybridizing fragments were detected upon Southern blot analysis using heart FABP (H-FABP) cDNA as a probe. The origin of these fragments was not clear. We screened a human genomic library and isolated an intronless gene (FABP3-ps) with 85% similarity to the human H-FABP cDNA and high similarity (76 and 79%) to the H-FABP cDNAs of mouse and bovine, respectively. By means of fluorescence in situ hybridization this processed pseudogene could be assigned chromosome 13q13-q14, whereas the gene for human H-FABP (FABP3) resides on chromosome 1p32-p33. No expression of the processed pseudogene could be detected in skeletal muscle or fetal brain.

Fluorescence in situ hybridization analysis shows the frequent occurrence of 14q32.3 rearrangements with involvement of immunoglobulin switch regions in myeloma cell lines.

In many B-cell malignancies, 14q32.3 chromosomal rearrangements involving the immunoglobulin heavy chain (IgH) locus have been shown to be pathognomonic for the disease. Although in myeloma heterogeneous and complex karyotypes are found, 14q32.3 translocations are prominent. However, owing to the telomeric position of the IgH locus, 14q32.3 translocations may be easily missed. We established fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) assays on chromosomes and DNA fibers to determine both the occurrence of 14q32.3 rearrangements in myeloma cell lines and the precise localization of the breakpoints in the IgH locus. Our results show that 14q32.3 chromosomal rearrangements are present in almost every myeloma cell line analyzed (17 of 19, 89%). Breakpoint analysis of the lines harboring one or more 14q32.3 rearrangements with the use of fiber-FISH revealed the involvement of switch regions in the IgH locus in 11 of 17 cell lines. Remarkably, pseudogamma genes without switch regions were involved in 3 of 17 cell lines, all derived from IgA myelomas. Three of 17 cell lines contained breakpoints outside a switch or immunoglobulin heavy chain constant region. The almost ubiquitous presence of 14q32.3 rearrangements suggests an obligatory role in the development of myeloma. The high incidence of breakpoints involving switch regions indicates an oncogenic event in a late stage of B-cell differentiation.

Molecular characterization of a recurring complex chromosomal translocation in two human extragonadal germ cell tumors.

The molecular characterization of a recurring complex chromosomal translocation involving 6p21, 6p22, 6q23, and 11q13 in two independent but similar extragonadal human germ cell tumors was initiated using fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and pulse field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) techniques. By using a series of specific probes from the 11q13 region, the translocation breakpoint in this chromosomal band could be located within a long-range restriction enzyme map in between the markers D11S457 and D11S546. In addition, aberrantly hybridizing restriction fragments were revealed by PFGE in both tumors, indicating that the breakpoint region must be located within a distance of at maximum 200 kilobase pairs (kbp) from the nearest DNA marker (D11S546).

Genomic organization and chromosomal assignment of the human voltage-gated Na+ channel beta 1 subunit gene (SCN1B).

Voltage-gated sodium (Na+) channels are essential for the generation and propagation of action potentials in striated muscle and neuronal tissues. Biochemically, Na+ channels consist of a large alpha subunit and one or two smaller beta subunits. The alpha subunit alone can exhibit all of the functional attributes of a voltage-gated Na+ channel, but requires a beta 1 subunit for normal inactivation kinetics. While genetic mutations in the skeletal muscle Na+ channel alpha-subunit gene can cause human disease, it is not known whether hereditary defects in the beta 1 subunit underlie any inherited syndromes. To help explore this further, we have carried out an analysis of the detailed structure of the human beta 1 subunit gene (SCN1B) including the delineation of intron-exon boundaries by genomic DNA cloning and sequence analysis. The complete coding region of SCN1B is found in approximately 9.0 kb of genomic DNA and consists of five exons (72 to 749 bp) and four introns (90 bp to 5.5 kb). Using a 15.9-kb genomic SCN1B clone, we assigned the gene to the long arm of chromosome 19 (19q13.1-q13.2) by fluorescence in situ hybridization. An intragenic polymorphic (TTA)n repeat that is positioned between two tandem Alu repetitive sequences was also characterized. The (TTA)n repeat exhibits 5 distinct alleles and a heterozygosity index of 0.59. This information should be useful in evaluating SCN1B as a candidate gene for hereditary disorders affecting membrane excitability.

Localization of the gamma-subunit of the skeletal muscle L-type voltage-dependent calcium channel gene (CACNLG) to human chromosome band 17q24 by in situ hybridization and identification of a polymorphic repetitive DNA sequence at the gene locus.

The skeletal muscle dihydropyridine receptor consists of five subunits and fulfils an essential role in excitation-contraction coupling. A genomic clone for the human gamma subunit was used to map the gene (CACNLG) to chromosome band 17q24 by in situ hybridization. Contained within the gene is a 416-bp polymorphic repetitive DNA element that is potentially useful as a genetic marker.

Genomic cloning of the human histo-blood group ABO locus.

A P1 phage clone containing the near complete protein coding region of the human histo-blood group ABO gene locus was isolated and characterized. The insert was estimated at approximately 41 kp, and an approximately 20 kbp BamHI fragment contained the near complete coding region as evaluated by Southern blot analysis. Intron/exon boundaries were determined and the coding region was found to span at least seven exons. In situ hybridization to metaphase chromosomes confirmed the predicted localization to 9q34.

The human gene for water channel aquaporin 1 (AQP1) is localized on chromosome 7p15-->p14.

The chromosomal localization of the gene encoding aquaporin 1 (previously called CHIP28), which acts as a water channel in erythrocytes and in the renal proximal tubules and descending limbs of Henle, was determined. Southern blot hybridizations on chromosomal DNA of a panel of 25 different human x rodent hybrid cell lines localized the aquaporin 1 gene to human chromosome 7. Additionally, in situ hybridization on R-banded metaphase chromosomes sublocalized the aquaporin 1 gene (AQP1) to 7p15-->p14, and some sequence-tagged sites in this region were identified.

Definition of a new entity of malignant extragonadal germ cell tumors.

Two malignant extragonadal germ cell tumors are reported, histologically classified as immature teratomas, having pseudodiploid karyotypes with complex structural rearrangements but lacking isochromosome 12p or other rearrangements involving 12p. The absence of 12p material in structural rearrangements was confirmed by chromosome painting. In the two tumors the following common chromosomal breakpoints were found: 6p21, 6p22, 6q23, and 11q13. Exactly the same chromosomal regions, 6p22::6q23 and 6p21::11q13, were involved in fusions. The two tumors belong to a new entity of extragonadal immature teratomas of adults which may be located in the retroperitoneum and posterior mediastinum and are prone to blood borne metastasis.

Genomic organization and chromosomal localization of three members of the UDP-N-acetylgalactosamine: polypeptide N-acetylgalactosaminyltransferase family.

A homologous family of UDP- N -acetylgalactosamine: polypeptide N -acetylgalactosaminyltransferases (GalNAc-transferases) initiate O-glycosylation. These transferases share overall amino acid sequence similarities of approximately 45-50%, but segments with higher similarities of approximately 80% are found in the putative catalytic domain. Here we have characterized the genomic organization of the coding regions of three GalNAc-transferase genes and determined their chromosomal localization. The coding regions of GALNT1 , -T2 , and -T3 were found to span 11, 16, and 10 exons, respectively. Several intron/exon boundaries were conserved within the three genes. One conserved boundary was shared in a homologous C. elegans GalNAc-transferase gene. Fluorescence in situ hybridization showed that GALNT1 , -T2 , and -T3 are localized at chromosomes 18q12-q21, 1q41-q42, and 2q24-q31, respectively. These results suggest that the members of the polypeptide GalNAc-transferase family diverged early in evolution from a common ancestral gene through gene duplication.

Detection of numerical alterations for chromosomes 7 and 12 in benign thyroid lesions by in situ hybridization. Histological implications.

Polysomies of chromosomes 7 and 12 have been frequently observed by conventional cytogenetics in a subgroup of thyroid follicular adenomas and in some cases of thyroid goiters. To further study possible cytogenetic similarities between these two types of thyroid lesions, we have used fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) to detect polysomies of chromosomes 7 and/or 12 in isolated nuclei from frozen and paraffin-embedded material of goiters and thyroid follicular adenomas and compared results with previous ones obtained by flow cytometry and conventional cytogenetics. With a set of two alpha-satellite DNA probes specific for the centromeric regions of chromosomes 7 and 12, used either separately (single-target fluorescence in situ hybridization) or simultaneously (double-target fluorescence in situ hybridization), we detected polysomies of chromosome 7 in 35.7% of the thyroid follicular adenomas and in 10.7% of the goiters. Polysomies of chromosome 12 were detected in 29.6% of the thyroid follicular adenomas and 6.7% of the goiters. The significantly higher frequency of adenomas with numerical alterations for chromosomes 7 and/or 12 supports the idea of a biological continuum and karyotypic evolution between both lesions. It is also noteworthy that polysomies of chromosomes 7 and/or 12 were observed only in lesions with an exclusive (or predominant) microfollicular histological component, as detected by enzymatic in situ hybridization on frozen sections.

The human TRIDENT/HFH-11/FKHL16 gene: structure, localization, and promoter characterization.

We recently identified the winged-helix/fork head transcription factor Trident in mouse and described its expression in cycling cells. Here we report the isolation and characterization of the human TRIDENT (HGMW-approved symbol FKHL16) cDNA and gene. Homology between the human and the mouse Trident proteins was 79%. The gene consists of 10 exons and is located on chromosome 12 band p13. The winged-helix DNA-binding domain is encoded on three exons. Analysis of the promoter in synchronized Rat-1 fibroblasts revealed a fragment of 300 bases responsible for the cell cycle-specific expression of the TRIDENT gene.

Comparative genomic hybridization analysis of human sarcomas: II. Identification of novel amplicons at 6p and 17p in osteosarcomas.

Using comparative genomic hybridization (CGH), we have identified and mapped regions of DNA amplification in primary and metastatic osteosarcomas. Samples were obtained from four patients and ten independent xenografts. Sixty-four percent of the tumors showed increased DNA-sequence copy numbers, affecting 23 different chromosomal sites. Most of these regions were not previously associated with the development and/or progression of these tumors. Amplicons originating from 1q21-q23, 6p, 8q23-qter, and 17p11-p12 were observed most frequently. The 6p and 17p11-p12 amplicons seem to be specific for osteosarcomas, indicating that these regions may harbor genes relevant for the development of these tumors.

Comparative genomic hybridization analysis of human sarcomas: I. Occurrence of genomic imbalances and identification of a novel major amplicon at 1q21-q22 in soft tissue sarcomas.

Comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) was recently developed as a tool to survey entire genomes for variations in DNA sequence copy numbers. We have applied this technique to detect and map amplified regions in 54 soft tissue sarcomas. Aberrations were detected by visual analysis of hybridizations or contrast-enhanced digital images, followed by quantitative digital ratio imaging of the aberrant chromosomes. Several tumors showed increased DNA sequence copy number at 12q14, as expected. However, CGH analysis detected amplification of 12q14 also in some tumors where neither MDM2 nor CDK4 was amplified, suggesting that another as yet unknown gene(s) may drive amplification of this region in sarcomas. Furthermore, a novel recurring amplicon was detected at 1q21-q22. DNA amplifications coinciding with this segment were as frequent as those observed for 12q14, indicating that 1q21-q22-linked gene(s) may also play an important role in the development and/or progression of human soft tissue sarcomas.

Assignment of the human gene for the water channel of renal collecting duct Aquaporin 2 (AQP2) to chromosome 12 region q12-->q13.

The chromosomal localization of the gene encoding Aquaporin 2 (previously called WCH-CD), which acts as a water channel in the collecting tubules of the kidney, was determined. Southern blot hybridizations of chromosomal DNA from a panel of 25 different human-rodent hybrid cell lines assigned AQP2 to the q-arm of human chromosome 12. Additionally, in situ hybridization on R-banded metaphase chromosomes localized AQP2 to the q12-->q13 region of this chromosome.

Molecular cloning of the synovial sarcoma-specific translocation (X;18)(p11.2;q11.2) breakpoint.

The chromosomal translocation (X;18)(p11.2;q11.2) represents the cytogenetic hallmark of human synovial sarcomas. Two related but distinct breakpoints within band Xp11.2 were reported previously by us and others using breakpoint-spanning YACs in conjunction with FISH. Interestingly, we found that the occurrence of these alternative breakpoints corresponds to the presence of different histologic characteristics of the tumors involved. Here we report the isolation, via subcloning of one of our YAC-derived cosmids, of probes which specifically hybridize to altered restriction fragments in tumor DNAs as compared to normal controls. By using a synovial sarcoma-derived der(X) containing somatic cell hybrid, which exhibits the more distal breakpoint, one of these aberrantly hybridizing fragments could be isolated via preparative gel electrophoresis. This fragment appears to contain chromosome X- and 18-derived sequences, as revealed by both FISH on normal metaphase spreads and Southern blot analysis of X- and 18-only somatic cell hybrids. We conclude that this genomic fragment is chimaeric in nature and contains the translocation breakpoint region. In addition, our results indicate that, in contrast to our findings on the X chromosome, a single locus on chromosome 18 may be involved in the development of different (sub)types of synovial sarcoma.

Structure and chromosomal localization of the human anti-müllerian hormone type II receptor gene.

Using the rat anti-müllerian hormone type II receptor (AMHRII) cDNA as a probe, two overlapping lambda phage clones containing the AMHRII gene were isolated from a human genomic library. Sequence analysis of the exons was performed and the exon/intron boundaries were determined. The coding region was found to consist of 11 exons, divided over 8 kb. The genomic structure resembles that of the related activin type II receptor gene. The AMHRII gene was mapped to human chromosome 12q12-q13. The results reported are essential for identification of AMHRII gene alterations in patients with persistent müllerian duct syndrome.

Cloning, chromosomal localization, and functional expression of the alpha 1 subunit of the L-type voltage-dependent calcium channel from normal human heart.

A unique structural variant of the cardiac L-type voltage-dependent calcium channel alpha 1 subunit cDNA was isolated from libraries derived from normal human heart mRNA. The deduced amino acid sequence shows significant homology to other calcium channel alpha 1 subunits. However, differences from the rabbit heart alpha 1 include a shortened N-terminus, a unique C-terminal insertion, and both forms of an alternatively spliced motif IV S3 region. The shortened N-terminus provides optimal access to consensus sequences thought to facilitate translation. Northern blot analysis revealed a single hybridizing mRNA species of 9.4 kb. The gene for the human heart alpha 1 subunit was localized specifically to the distal region of chromosome 12p13. The cloned alpha 1 subunit was expressed in Xenopus oocytes and single-channel analyses revealed native-like pharmacology and channel properties.

The mouse gene Ptprf encoding the leukocyte common antigen-related molecule LAR: cloning, characterization, and chromosomal localization.

The human receptor-like protein tyrosine phosphatase leukocyte common antigen-related molecule (LAR; gene symbol PTPRF) closely resembles cell adhesion molecules, which suggests that it may be involved in the regulation of phosphotyrosine levels through cell-cell or cell-matrix interactions. To obtain a better understanding of LAR function, we have characterized the mouse Ptprf gene as a first step toward site-directed mutagenesis studies in vitro and in vivo. The cytoplasmic region of the mouse LAR (mLAR) protein is encoded by 11 exons that span only 4.5 kb of genomic DNA. Compared to the known exon-intron structures of other mammalian receptor-like protein tyrosine phosphatase genes, such as Ptpra (encoding LRP) and Ptprc (coding for Ly-5), the Ptprf gene part encoding the cytoplasmic region of mLAR contains not only smaller, but also fewer introns. Sequence analysis of both phosphatase domains of mLAR and its homologs MPTP delta and mRPTP sigma revealed a higher evolutionary conservation of the second, C-terminal domain in comparison to the first domain. Fluorescence in situ hybridization was used to map the Ptprf gene to region C6-D1 on mouse chromosome 4.