Mouse p73 gene maps to the distal part of chromosome 4 and might be involved in the progression of gamma-radiation-induced T-cell lymphomas.

Abstract

We have isolated and sequenced a DNA fragment of about 12 kb that comprises exons 5-14 of the mouse p73 gene. We have identified four polymorphic markers, and one of them has been used to genetically map p73 to the distal part of chromosome 4. Previously, we have reported that gamma-radiation-induced T-cell lymphomas undergo frequent loss of heterozygosity around marker D4Mit205b at the distal part of chromosome 4. Based on this, we have performed loss of heterozygosity analysis in a set of T-cell lymphomas, and we have found allelic losses of p73 in 32.6% (16 of 49) of the tumors analyzed. Interestingly, allelic losses occur concurrently at both p73 and D4Mit205b, thus suggesting that p73 could be specifically inactivated in radiation-induced T-cell lymphomas.