Mapping of glutathione transferase (GST) genes in the rat

Glutathione transferases (GST) make up a large group of related enzymes in mammalian tissues. The enzyme molecules are dimeric and at least 13 different subunits occur in the rat. Each subunit appears to be coded for by a distinct gene, and thus there is a large GST gene family in the rat. Recently, there have been several reports of the mapping of rat GST genes. In the present communication we confirm the previous assignments and extend the data with the mapping to rat chromosome 2 of a previously unmapped GST gene (Gstm1), and with the regional mapping of seven Gstp genes. These mappings provide further evidence for conservation of syntenic gene relationships among mammals. The human homologs of Gstm1 map to chromosome 1, and belong to a group of 9 genes that show conserved synteny on rat chromosome 2. The corresponding murine genes in most cases map to mouse chromosome 3. Similarly, the human homolog of Gstp maps to chromosome 11, and is one of 10 genes that exhibit conserved synteny on rat chromosome 1. The corresponding mouse genes map to mouse chromosome 7. Previously only one gene on rat chromosome 8 had a human homolog on chromosome 6, and rat Gsta1 is the second instance. Based on these mappings it appears that a new group of genes will exhibit conserved synteny on rat chromosome 8, human chromosome 6 and mouse chromosome 9. Interestingly, each of the three groups of conserved synteny seems to span the region across the centromeres of the human chromosomes.