Human alpha 1(III) and alpha 2(V) procollagen genes are located on the long arm of chromosome 2.

Abstract

The multigene procollagen family encodes probably > 20 genetically distinct but structurally related polypeptide chains. Recent characterization of human procollagen clones has allowed determination of functional domains within the proteins, genomic organization, and chromosomal location. Previously, the coordinately expressed type I genes (.alpha.1 and .alpha.2) were assigned to chromosomes 17 and 7, respectively, and now other investigators have mapped the type II gene to chromosome 12. Recently, c[complementary]DNA clones encoding the 4th interstitial procollagen, type III, and the .alpha.2 chain of the type V cytoskeletal components were isolated. To determine whether these genes were clustered with .alpha.1(I), .alpha.2(I), or .alpha.1(II) or were further dispersed in the genome, in situ hydridization of the .alpha.1(III) and .alpha.2(V) probes to metaphase chromosomes was carried out. A 4th autosome with procollagen gene loci but the 1st cytological evidence for linkage is reported. By using normal and translocated cell lines, the results show that both the .alpha.1(III) and .alpha.2(V) procollagen genes map to the q24.3 .fwdarw. q31 region of chromosome 2.