Hybridization mapping of Trypanosoma cruzi chromosomes III and IV

As part of the Trypanosoma Genome Initiative launched by the World Health Organization (WHO), a physical clone map of Trypanosoma cruzi chromosomes III and IV was generated to facilitate both DNA sequence analysis of the parasite's genome and the investigation of chromosome organization. Apart from a few genetic markers, anonymous cosmids were taken from chromosomal sublibraries and individually hybridized to filter arrays of the relevant cosmid library. The probe order was determined from the hybridization fingerprint results and used to define a fitting clone order, with few gaps remaining. The results were independently verified by hybridizations to a bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) library and, in case of chromosome III, restriction mapping. For gap closure, additional experiments on a total cosmid library were carried out. The possible tiling paths consist of 26 clones for chromosome III (610 kbp) and 28 clones for chromosome IV (680 kbp).