Related Experiment Videos
Human type I cytokeratin genes are a compact cluster
N Ceratto1, C Dobkin, M Carter
1Laboratorio di Genetica Molecolare, Istituto per la Ricerca sul Ritardo Mentale e l'Involuzione Cerebrale (I.R.C.C.S.), Troina, Italy.
Cytogenetics and Cell Genetics
|January 1, 1997
Summary
Researchers identified a compact cluster of human type I keratin (KRT) genes on chromosome 17. This discovery provides a new tool for studying the complex KRT gene locus.
Area of Science:
- Genetics
- Molecular Biology
- Genomics
Background:
- Cytokeratins (KRTs) are intermediate filament proteins crucial for epithelial cell structure.
- Type I KRT genes are known to be located on chromosome 17.
- Understanding the organization of KRT gene clusters is important for studying their regulation and function.
Purpose of the Study:
- To isolate and characterize yeast artificial chromosome (YAC) clones containing human type I KRT genes.
- To determine the physical map and arrangement of KRT genes within a specific genomic region.
- To provide tools for further investigation of the human type I KRT gene locus.
Main Methods:
- Polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based screening of a human genomic library.
- Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) for chromosomal mapping.
- Southern blot hybridization and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) for DNA analysis and mapping.
Main Results:
- A YAC clone (211F11) containing approximately 0.5 Mb of human DNA was isolated.
- FISH mapped the YAC clone to chromosome 17q12-q21.
- KRT13, KRT14, KRT15, and KRT16 were found within YAC clone 211F11.
- Long-range mapping indicated that KRT13, 14, 15, 16, KRT17, and KRT19 are organized in a compact cluster (<150 kb).
Conclusions:
- The human type I KRT genes form a highly compact cluster on chromosome 17.
- The isolated YAC clones serve as valuable tools for dissecting the molecular structure of this gene locus.
- Further studies can utilize these YACs to investigate the regulation and evolution of type I KRT genes.