Genetic mapping of the mouse interleukin 3 gene to chromosome 11.

Interleukin 3 (IL 3) is a T cell-derived lymphokine that induces the proliferation and differentiation of early hematopoietic stem cells. By using a cDNA clone for IL 3, a single Eco-RI restriction fragment of 8.5 kbp was detected in Southern blot hybridizations of DNA from BALB/c and C57BL/10 mice, whereas an Eco-RI restriction fragment of 10.8 kbp was detected in NFS and A/J mice. Under the conditions used, no hybridization was detected to Chinese hamster DNA. The species and strain differences were used to analyze a series of hamster X mouse somatic cell hybrids and genetic crosses between NFS and C57BL/10 mice. The results demonstrate that the IL 3 gene is located on chromosome 11.