The retinoblastoma-related gene, RB2, maps to human chromosome 16q12 and rat chromosome 19.

A retinoblastoma-related human gene, referred to as RB2, has been cloned based on sequence homology of the E1A-binding domain of the retinoblastoma gene. Structural homology with the retinoblastoma gene suggests a possible function of RB2 as a tumor suppressor gene. In this study, we have mapped this gene to human chromosome 16q12.2 and rat chromosome 19, using fluorescence in situ hybridization and somatic hybrid cell analysis, respectively. Based on known syntenic relationships among human, rat and mouse, the data suggest that the mouse homolog resides on chromosome 8. Deletions of chromosome 16q have been found in several human neoplasias (including breast, ovarian, hepatic, and prostatic cancers) which is in support of an involvement of RB2 in human cancer as a tumor suppressor gene.