Localization of the human phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase c beta 3 gene (PLCB3) within chromosome band 11q13.

In course of the molecular characterization of a human extragonadal germ cell tumor (EGCT)-associated chromosomal translocation, we identified YACs and cosmids from the 11q13 region. The endclone of one of these YACs appeared to contain a stretch of DNA homologous to part of the human phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C beta 3 gene (PLCB3). Since we considered PLCB3 a candidate gene for these EGCTs, we set out to clone the PLCB3 cDNA, from which the 5' end was still missing, and performed Northern and Southern blot analyses. The localization of PLCB3 to 11q13 was confirmed. In addition, we were able to exclude the gene from involvement in EGCT development.