Isolation and characterization of a major tandem repeat family from the human X chromosome

Huntington F. Willard, Kirby D. Smith, Joanne Sutherland

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

225 Scopus citations

Abstract

We report the Identification and characterization of a family of repeated restriction fragments whose molecular organization is apparently specific to the human X chromosome. This fragment, identified as an ethidium bromide-staining 2.0 kilobase (kb) band in BamHI-digested DNA from a Chinese hamstser-human somatic cell hybrid containing a human X chromosome, has been cloned into pBR325 and characterized. The 2.0 kb repeated family has been assigned to the Xpll→ Xql2 region on the X by Southern blot analysis of somatic cell hybrids and is predominantly arranged in tandem clusters of up to seven 2.0 kb monomers. Homologous DNA sequence, not organized as 2.0 kb BamHI fragments, are found elsewhere on the X chromosome and on at least some autosomes, but are not found on the Y chromosome. From a dosing experiment using various amounts of the cloned repeat, we estimate that there are 5,000 - 7,500 copies of the 2.0 kb BamHI repeat per haploid genome. Since the vast majority, if not all, of these are confined to the X chromosome, this repeated DNA family must account for 5-10% of all X chromosome DNA and Bust constitute the major sequence component of the pericentromeric region of the X.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)2017-2034
Number of pages18
JournalNucleic acids research
Volume11
Issue number7
DOIs
StatePublished - Apr 11 1983
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Genetics

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Isolation and characterization of a major tandem repeat family from the human X chromosome'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this