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An efficient strategy to develop a dense set of single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers is to take advantage of the human genome sequencing effort currently under way. Our approach is based on the fact that bacterial artificial chromosomes (BACs) and P1-based artificial chromosomes (PACs) used in long-range sequencing projects come from diploid libraries. If the overlapping clones sequenced are from different lineages, one is comparing the sequences from 2 homologous chromosomes in the overlapping region. We have analyzed in detail every SNP identified while sequencing three sets of overlapping clones found on chromosome 5p15.2, 7q21–7q22, and 13q12–13q13. In the 200.6 kb of DNA sequence analyzed in these overlaps, 153 SNPs were identified. Computer analysis for repetitive elements and suitability for STS development yielded 44 STSs containing 68 SNPs for further study. All 68 SNPs were confirmed to be present in at least one of the three (Caucasian, African-American, Hispanic) populations studied. Furthermore, 42 of the SNPs tested (62%) were informative in at least one population, 32 (47%) were informative in two or more populations, and 23 (34%) were informative in all three populations. These results clearly indicate that developing SNP markers from overlapping genomic sequence is highly efficient and cost effective, requiring only the two simple steps of developing STSs around the known SNPs and characterizing them in the appropriate populations.[The sequence data described in this paper have been submitted to the GenBank data library under accession nos. AC003015 (for GS113423),AC002380 (GS330J10), AC000066 (RG293F11), AC003086 (RG104F04), AC002525(257C22A), and U73331 (96A18A).]

The region surrounding the ZNF35 zinc finger protein gene on 3p21 is of particular interest, as this region of chromosome 3 is frequently involved in rearrangements and/or deletions associated with various human tumors including lung and renal carcinoma. We have analyzed yeast artificial chromosomes (YACs), identified by PCR screening, using oligonucleotides derived from the ZNF35 gene. PFGE and Southern blot/hybridization analysis revealed that the clones cover 750-kb including the ZNF35 gene. The use of specific somatic cell hybrids have allowed us to locate the YAC contig telomeric to the D3F15S2 locus, in a region which is frequently deleted in lung carcinomas. In addition, we have developed a novel cDNA hybridization protocol allowing the isolation of transcribed sequences present in the overlapping YAC clones. Using the cDNA hybridization selection, we have isolated and characterized one transcribed sequence (D3S1362E) from the 3p21 YAC contig and the corresponding cDNA has been isolated. DNA sequencing analysis indicated that the D3S1363E cDNA codes for a putative transcription factor. Northern blot analysis indicated that the D3S1362E sequence hybridized to multiple transcripts in skeletal muscle, and weakly hybridizing transcripts of similar sizes were detected in other tissues.

A 290-kilobase-pair chromosomal segment containing the genes encoding the human class I major histocompatibility complex molecules HLA-B and HLA-C as well as a class I pseudogene has been isolated on three overlapping yeast artificial chromosome (YAC) clones. One YAC clone contains both the HLA-B and HLA-C genes. These loci are located approximately 85 kilobase pairs apart, each in close association with a CpG island. Southern blotting and nucleotide sequencing showed no evidence of alteration of the structure of the cloned DNA in the YACs. End fragments from the YAC inserts have been isolated and used to confirm the overlaps between clones. These fragments can also serve as polymorphic markers for structural analysis of the major histocompatibility complex. Our data show that YAC cloning offers an attractive alternative for analysis of the structures of large gene complexes such as HLA.

The construction of large-scale physical maps requires efficient approaches to generate new probes and link informative markers. The mapping of a human chromosomal segment was initiated by using the 18q21.3 probes, plasminogen activator inhibitor type-2 (PLANH2) and BCL2, to screen a yeast artificial chromosome (YAC) library. An inverse polymerase chain reaction technique rescued genomic ends of the YAC inserts. These new probes were used in a chromosomal walking strategy which established that the PLANH2 gene was 600 kb telomeric and in the opposite transcriptional orientation to that of BCL2. Overall, 16 YACs with a mean size of approximately 300 kb were analyzed using rare-cutting restriction endonucleases and 10 end-rescued probes. A contiguous map within 18q21.3 that spans approximately 2 Mb was assembled. This establishes the feasibility of using YACs in the efficient cloning and physical surveying of expanses of the human genome lacking closely spaced, genetic landmarks.

A cDNA clone coding for human protein kinase CK1 (casein kinase 1) has been isolated and sequenced demonstrating that it corresponds to a homolog of the CK1 alpha form found in bovine brain. The derived amino acid sequence of the human CK1 alpha is identical to the bovine counterpart except that it contains 12 extra amino acids at the carboxyl end. Using this cDNA sequence and PCR amplification, YAC genomic clones that contain this human CK1 alpha sequence have been isolated. These YACs have been used for fluorescent in situ hybridization in order to localize the human CK1 alpha gene to chromosome 13q13.

The yeast artificial chromosome (YAC) system (Burke et al. , 1987, Science 236: 806–812) allows the direct cloning of large regions of the genome. A YAC contig map of approximately 700 kb encompassing the region surrounding the type 1 neurofibromatosis ( NF1 ) locus on 17q11.2 has been constructed. A single YAC containing the entire NF1 locus has been constructed by homologous recombination in yeast. In the process of contig construction a novel method of YAC end rescue has been developed by YAC circularization in yeast and plasmid rescue in bacteria. YACs containing homology to the NF1 region but mapping to another chromosome have also been discovered. Sequences of portions of the homologous locus indicate that this other locus is a nonprocessed pseudogene.

The gene responsible for Huntington disease has been localized to a 2.5 million base pair (Mb) region between the loci D4S10 and D4S168 on the short arm of chromosome 4. As part of a strategy to clone the HD gene on the basis of its chromosomal location, we isolated genomic DNA from the HD region as a set of overlapping yeast artificial chromosome (YAC) clones. Twenty-eight YAC clones were identified by screening human YAC libraries with twelve PCR-based sequence-tagged sites (STSs) from the region. We assembled the YAC clones into overlapping sets by hybridizing them to a large number of DNA probes from the HD region, including the STSs. In addition, we isolated the ends of the human DNA inserts of most of the YAC clones to assist in the construction of the contig. Although almost half of the YACs appear to contain chimeric inserts and several contain internal deletions or other rearrangements, we were able to obtain over 2.2 Mb of the HD region in YACs, including one continuous segment of 2.0 Mb covering the region that most likely contains the HD gene. Ten of the twenty eight YAC clones comprise a minimal set spanning the 2.2 Mb. These clones provide reagents for the complete characterization of this region of the genome and for the eventual isolation of the HD gene.

The region surrounding the steroid sulfatase (STS) locus on Xp22.3 is of particular interest since it represents a deletion hot spot, shares homology with the proximal long arm of the Y chromosome (Yq11.2), and contains genes for several well-described X-linked disorders. Here we describe yeast artificial chromosomes (YACs) covering 450 kb around the STS gene. Eight YAC clones were isolated from a human YAC library. Their STS exon content was determined and the overlap of the clones characterized. Two of the YAC clones were found to contain the entire STS gene. The most proximal and the most distal ends of the YAC contig were cloned but neither of them crossed the breakpoints in any of the previously described patients with entire STS gene deletions. This is consistent with deletions larger than 500 kb in all these patients. One of the YAC clones was found to contain sequences from the STS pseudogene on Yq11.2. Two anonymous DNA sequences, GMGXY19 and GMGXY3, previously mapped in the vicinity of the STS locus, were found within the YAC contig and their assignment with respect to the STS locus was thus possible. This contig is useful for the overlap cloning of the Xp22.3 region and for reverse genetic strategies for the isolation of disease genes in the region. Furthermore, it may provide insight into the molecular mechanisms of deletion and translocation events on Xp22.3 and in the evolution of sex chromosomes.

Eight major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II loci and the newly defined Y3/Ring 4 locus were isolated in overlapping yeast artificial chromosome (YAC) clones defining a 420-kb segment of human chromosome 6p21.3. YAC B1D12 spanning 320 kb contained seven of these loci from HLA-DRA to HLA-DQB2. A 330-kb YAC, A148A7, spanned from the HLA-DQA1 locus through the Y3/Ring 4 locus and extended at least 130 kb centromeric of YAC B1D12. Southern blotting demonstrated that YAC B1D12 derived from the HLA-DR3 haplotype and that YAC A148A7 derived from the HLA-DR7 haplotype of the heterozygous library donor. A third 150-kb YAC, A95C5, lay within this contig and contained only the HLA-DRA locus. A fourth 300-kb YAC, A76F11, was isolated by chromosome walking from the telomeric end of YAC B1D12. Probes isolated from the ends of the YAC genomic inserts have been used to confirm overlaps between the clones. These analyses demonstrated that the centromeric end of YAC A76F11 used the same genomic EcoRI cloning site as the telomeric end of YAC A95C5. YAC B1D12 used an EcoRI site only 2.1 kb telomeric of the aforementioned EcoRI site. These data suggest that certain EcoRI sites are used preferentially during construction of the library. These YACs complete the linkage of the DR and DQ subregions of the HLA complex in cloned DNA and provide the substrate for precise analysis of this portion of the class II region.

Kallmann's syndrome (clinically characterized by hypogonadotropic hypogonadism and inability to smell) is caused by a defect in the migration of olfactory neurons, and neurons producing hypothalamic gonadotropin-releasing hormone. A gene has now been isolated from the critical region on Xp22.3 to which the syndrome locus has been assigned: this gene escapes X inactivation, has a homologue on the Y chromosome, and shows an unusual pattern of conservation across species. The predicted protein has significant similarities with proteins involved in neural cell adhesion and axonal pathfinding, as well as with protein kinases and phosphatases, which suggests that this gene could have a specific role in neuronal migration.

The recently developed technique for cloning genomic DNA fragments of several hundred kilobases or more into yeast artificial chromosomes (YACs) makes it possible to isolate gene families while preserving their structural integrity. We have analyzed five independent yeast clones identified by PCR screening using oligonucleotides derived from the adult human beta-globin gene. Analysis of the five clones containing YACs by conventional and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis revealed that all of the clones include a YAC with sequences from the adult beta-globin gene as expected. One of the clones contains multiple, unstable YACs. Two other clones carry single YACs in which there are at least two unrelated human genomic inserts. The remaining two clones contain single YACs, 150 and 220 kb in size, that contain the entire beta-globin gene family and flanking regions in a single, structurally intact genomic fragment. These should prove useful in future studies of the regulation of expression of genes in the beta-globin gene cluster.

The HLA class I genes are located within a 2-million-base pair (2-Mbp) region constituting the telomeric half of the human major histocompatibility complex. The large majority of the class I sequences, including the HLA-A, -E, -F, and -G genes, is found within the telomeric 1 Mbp. We report here the isolation and characterization of yeast artificial chromosome (YAC) clones that span a contiguous region of greater than 1.2 Mbp and include 14 of the 18 characterized class I sequences. Restriction enzyme mapping and the use of locus-specific probes have allowed all of the class I genes and sequences to be ordered and positioned within the region. In addition, the transcriptional orientation of the four class I genes has been determined. Using probes derived from the ends of YAC inserts and from class I pseudogenes, we describe a highly polymorphic region between the HLA-A and HLA-G genes. This region appears to be deleted in certain HLA haplotypes, shortening the distance between HLA-A and HLA-G by greater than 50 kilobase pairs (kbp). As part of the characterization of the YAC clones, unique sequence probes derived from the ends of each YAC insert were identified. When combined with probes derived from HLA genes and pseudogenes, 25 locus-specific probes spanning the 1.2-Mbp region have been identified for an average of 1 probe every 48 kbp.