The mapping of transgenes by fluorescence in situ hybridization on G-banded mouse chromosomes

A highly sensitive method for the mapping of transgenes and other genes in the mouse genome is described. This technique combines high-resolution G-banding and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) with either biotin/avidin-FITC or digoxigenin-anti-digoxigenin-FITC, the latter being the more sensitive. Banding patterns are obtained with trypsin/Giemsa-treated slides, and sensitivity is greatly increased by the use of mouse Cot-1 DNA. With this protocol, four different 14.5-kb human Cu/Zn-superoxide dismutase transgene insertions ranging in copy number from 2 to 8 have been localized to four different mouse chromosomes. The utility and sensitivity of this procedure were verified with a Chromosome (Chr) 16-specific cosmid probe, H22, as well as with the mapping of a high-copy-number human beta-amyloid/A4 transgene.