SHORT COMMUNICATION The Human PECAM1 Gene Maps to 17q23 R ICHARD J. GUMINA,* , † NANCY E. KIRSCHBAUM ,† P. NAGESH R AO,‡ P ETER VANT UINEN,§ AND P ETER J. NEWMAN* , † , Ø,1 * Department of Cellular Biology and Anatomy, §Department of Pathology, and Ø Department of Pharmacology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin; ‡Molecular Cytogenetics Laboratory, Bowman Gray School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina; and †Blood Research Institute, The Blood Center of Southeastern Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53201 Received September 20, 1995; accepted February 20, 1996 a knowledge of the structure of the PECAM1 gene and We have determined the chromosomal and regional of the regulation of expression of the PECAM1 gene location of the gene encoding PECAM-1 (termed may facilitate our work to understand the cellular in- PECAM1 by GBD nomenclature) using a polymerase teractions mediated by this novel cell adhesion mole- chain reaction (PCR)-based analysis of somatic cell hy- cule. brids. Analysis of a somatic cell hybrid chromosome Work by our laboratory has previously described the panel established that the PECAM1 gene is on chromo- cloning of the PECAM-1 cDNA and the characteriza- some 17. Interestingly, several adhesion molecules ex- tion of the structure of the PECAM1 gene (6, 10). As pressed on platelets and endothelium also localize to a prelude to further analysis of the organization and chromosome 17: the GP1BA locus (glycoprotein (GP) evolution of the PECAM1 gene, we have mapped the Iba) has been provisionally mapped to the region human PECAM1 locus using a polymerase chain reac- 17p12 –pter, the ITGA2B (GPIIb) and the ITGB3 (GPI- tion (PCR)-based analysis of two panels of somatic cell IIa) loci have been confirmed to the region 17q21.32; hybrids and fluorescence in situ hybridization. The first and the ICAM2 locus has been provisionally mapped panel consisted of genomic DNA from human – hamster to the region 17q23 – q25. To determine if the PECAM1 hybrids (BIOS, Inc., New Haven, CT). Seventeen hy- locus colocalizes with any of the loci for these adhesion brids, which together encompass the full complement molecules, PCR-based analysis of a regional mapping panel for human chromosome 17 was conducted. We of human chromosomes, were screened. The second found that the PECAM1 locus is on the long arm of panel of somatic hybrids, which subdivides human chromosome 17, in the region q23 –qter. To confirm this chromosome 17 into 15 regions, has been previously observation and obtain a more precise localization of described (16). A subset of these hybrids was utilized in the PECAM1 locus, fluorescence in situ hybridization the localization of the human PECAM1 gene. Genomic was conducted. Together our data allowed assignment DNA was isolated from the chromosome 17-specific of the PECAM1 locus to the region 17q23.  1996 Academic panel as previously described (7). Press, Inc. The loci of the genes for several adhesion molecules expressed on platelets and endothelium have also been previously mapped to chromosome 17. The GP1BA lo- PECAM-1 (platelet/endothelial cell adhesion mole- cus (glycoprotein (GP) Iba) has been provisionally cule-1) is a 130-kDa plasma membrane glycoprotein mapped to the region 17p12–pter (18), the ITGA2B that is constitutively expressed on the surface of endo- (GPIIb) and the ITGB3 (GPIIIa) loci have been con- thelial cells, platelets, and certain leukocyte subtypes firmed to the region 17q21.32 (1, 15), and the ICAM2 (2, 8, 10). PECAM-1 is expressed at high levels on hu- locus has been provisionally mapped to the region man endothelial cells where it is localized to the cell– 17q23–q25 (14). To validate the use of PCR to map cell border at areas of endothelial cell contact, where gene location with chromosome 17 panel primers rou- it plays a role in stabilization of the endothelial cell – tinely used in our lab for the amplification of the GP1A, cell junction (8) and also appears to function as a medi- the ITGA2B and ITGB3 genes were employed to con- ator of leukocyte transendothelial migration (9, 11). firm the localization of these genes on chromosome 17. Given what we know concerning the role of PECAM- The GP1BA-specific forward primer begins at position 1 as an endothelial cell junctional molecule and as a 404 of the cDNA with the sequence 5-TGGACGTCT- mediator of leukocyte/endothelial cell– cell interaction, CCTCAACCGGCTGACA-3 , and the reverse primer begins at position 1001 in the cDNA with the sequence 1 To whom all correspondence should be addressed at Blood Re- 5-GTATGGGCTTTGGTGGGGAACTTGACC-3 . The search Institute, The Blood Center of Southeastern Wisconsin, P.O. GP1BA primers yielded a 600-bp product following Box 2178, Milwaukee, WI 53201-2178. Telephone: (414) 937-6237. Fax: (414) 937-6284. E-mail: pjn@bcsew.edu. PCR amplification. The ITGB3-specific forward primer 229 GENOMICS 34, 229–232 (1996) ARTICLE NO. 0272 0888-7543/96 $18.00 Copyright  1996 by Academic Press, Inc. All rights of reproduction in any form reserved. AID Genom 4049 / 6r14$$$321 05-09-96 12:42:03 gnmxa AP: Genomics