Physical delineation of the minimal chromosomal segment encompassing the murine host resistance locus Bcg

The host resistance locus Bcg determines resistance of mice to infection with intracellular pathogens such as certain species of Mycobacteria, Salmonella typhimurium, and Leishmania donovani. Bcg maps on the proximal portion of mouse chromosome 1, very tightly linked to villin (Vil), with the gene order and intergene distances Tp-1-(1 cM)-D1Mcg105-(0.1 cM)-lambda Mm1C165/Vil/Bcg-(0.2 cM)-lambda Mm1C136-(0.3 cM)-Des-(0.1 cM)-Inha. In an effort to clone genomic sequences overlapping Bcg, we have used pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) and fluorescence in situ hybridization to construct a physical map of the 3.9-Mb segment of proximal mouse chromosome 1, near Bcg. In situ hybridization to metaphase mouse chromosomes indicates that the mapped region is within band C5. Physical mapping of the Tp-1-Vil and lambda Mm1C136-Inha intervals was carried out by PFGE analysis, whereas the Vil-Des interval was estimated by in situ hybridization to interphase nuclei. Results of these combined analyses indicate the following locus order and maximal interlocus distances: Tp-1-(1000 kb)-D1Mcg105-(160 kb)-lambda Mm1C165-(180 kb)-Vil-(800 kb)-lambda Mm1C136-(290 kb)-Des-(130 kb)-Inha. Detailed restriction mapping of this region identifies numerous putative CpG islands, suggesting that several transcription units are present in the vicinity of Bcg.