Regional localization of the fibronectin and gamma crystallin genes to mouse chromosome 1 by in situ hybridization.

Genes for fibronectin, gamma crystallin, and isocitrate dehydrogenase-1 are syntenic in mouse, man, and cow. In an effort to physically locate this conserved chromosome region in the genomes of the respective species, we have localized the fibronectin and gamma crystallin genes to mouse chromosome 1, region C1-5 by in situ hybridization. In situ hybridization was conducted on metaphase chromosomes of bone marrow preparations of Rb 1.7 mice. These cells contain Robertsonian translocated chromosomes 1 and 7 as the only submetacentric chromosome in an otherwise acrocentric genome. Physically mapping these genes to mouse chromosome 1 now enables comparisons of the genetic map and the physical map on the proximal half of this chromosome. Genes in this conserved region of mouse chromosome 1 are also involved in resistance to intracellular pathogens, and the chromosomal localization of this region may facilitate the identification of homologous genes in other species.