Physical map of the human chromosome 8p12-p21 encompassing tumor suppressor and Werner's syndrome gene loci.

Detailed physical maps of the human genome are important resources for identification and isolation of genes responsible for diseases and for the study of their structure and function. We constructed a 2.0-Mb high-resolution physical map within the human chromosome 8p12-p21 region extending from marker D8S131 to D8S283. The map comprises a series of contigs mostly P1/PAC clones, which span the loci of potential tumor suppressor genes and the Werner's syndrome gene. Each P1/PAC DNA was defined by its size, restriction sites, terminal sequences, intermarker distances and location relative to major genes and markers. The genes on these P1/PAC DNAs were analyzed by an exon amplification method to determine their locations. The genes newly found by the exon amplification method together with other known genes, including those of glutathion reductase, a general transcription factor, protein phosphatase 2A beta subunit and Werner's syndrome, were precisely mapped within the contigs. These P1/PAC DNAs are useful reagents for the generation of new microsatellite markers to narrow the candidate region of the tumor suppressor gene(s) and/or genes responsible for other diseases, which are believed to exist in this region by linkage analysis.