Conserved chromosomal location and genomic structure of human and mouse fatty-acid amide hydrolase genes and evaluation of clasper as a candidate neurological mutation.

Fatty-acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) is a membrane-bound enzyme that degrades neuromodulatory fatty acid amides, such as oleamide and anandamide, and is expressed in the mammalian central nervous system. To evaluate FAAH genes as candidates for neurogenetic diseases in humans and mice, we have mapped the loci in both species and have determined their intron-exon structures. The human FAAH gene was mapped to region 1p34-p35, closely linked to D1S197 and D1S443, by using PCR analysis of somatic cell hybrid (SCH) and radiation hybrid mapping panels. Analysis of an SCH mapping panel and a mouse interspecific backcross panel has localized the Faah gene to the conserved syntenic region on mouse chromosome 4, close to the neurological mutation clasper. Faah gene rearrangements were excluded by Southern blot analysis of clasper DNA. No sequence abnormality was detected in PCR products containing the 15 exons and splice junctions of the mouse Faah gene. FAAH protein levels were normal in clasper mouse tissues as determined by enzyme activity assays and Western blotting.