Chromosome mapping of Miller-Diecker, Smith-Magenis and RARA loci in non-human primates: implications in the evolution of human chromosome 17.

Molecular cytogenetics allows to verify chromosomal homologies previously hypothesised on the base of banding pattern comparison in different species. So far only the chromosome painting technique has been extensively used in studies of chromosomal evolution. This technique allows to detect only interchromosomal rearrangements. Human and Great Apes chromosomes basically differ by intrachromosomal rearrangements, in particular inversions; with chromosome painting it has just been possible to confirm the origin by fusion of human chromosome 2 and a reciprocal translocation in Gorilla, involving the homologous of chromosome 5 and 17. In order to verify intrachromosomal rearrangements in human chromosomal evolution, chromosome mapping of human loci in non-human primates is a useful approach. We mapped Miller-Diecker, Smith-Magenis and RARA loci localised on human chromosome 17, in Gorilla gorilla, Pongo pygmaeus, Macaca fascicularis and Cercopithecus aethiops. On the base of the obtained results it was possible to verify chromosomal rearrangements previously identified by banding, to achieve new informations about the controversial evolution of human chromosome 17, and to detect the occurrence of a paracentric inversion in the homologous in Cercopithecus aethiops.