Provirus-anchored long-range (PAL) mapping of mammalian genomes

To design a strategy for more efficient long-range physical mapping of large mammalian genomes, we have developed a method for directional mapping from anchor points of randomly integrated retroviral proviruses containing sequences that provide unique cleavage sites in the genome. Using this method, we have determined a physical map of approximately 1.6 Mb flanking an Mo MLV-proviral integration site in mouse NIH/3T3 cells. Our results indicate that this provirus-anchored long-range (PAL) mapping strategy, which uses only two proviral sequences as universal hybridization probes, can potentially allow rapid construction of physical maps for chromosomal regions devoid of other genetic markers.