title: Human ferritin genes: chromosomal assignments and polymorphisms.
abstract: The ferritins are a family of proteins that function intracellularly to sequester iron that otherwise would be toxic to the cell. The molecules are comprised of 24 heavy and light subunits, the heavy:light ratio varying widely in a tissue-specific manner. We cloned DNA sequences for both the heavy (HL217-1) and light (HL227) subunits from a cDNA library derived from messages that are strongly regulated during in vitro-induced differentiation of a promyelocytic leukemia cell line, HL-60, into either neutrophils or macrophages. The heavy-subunit family (FTH) includes 15-20 genes and/or pseudogenes; the light-subunit family (FTL) includes at least three genes. We have confirmed and extended the chromosomal localization of the heavy-subunit "genes" to chromosomes 1-6, 8, 9, 11, 13, 14, 17, and X. We have also identified and characterized two genetic polymorphisms: FTH/BamHI and FTH/TaqI. FTH/BamHI localizes to chromosome 3, is biallelic, and has a heterozygosity frequency of .39, a minor allele frequency of .33, and a polymorphic information content (PIC) of .34. FTH/TaqI is measured by the presence or absence of a single 6-kb fragment that is absent (i.e., "homozygosity" being presumed) in approximately 63% of Caucasians (PIC = .27). We discuss the possibility that gene-family probes that hybridize to many discrete members of dispersed gene families could be used in conjunction with pulsed- or inverted-field gels to screen a large number of specific genomic regions for microdeletions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, University of California at Los Angeles.
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Gatti
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Shaked
authors.forename: T K
authors.initials: TK
authors.lastname: Mohandas
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Salser
mesh_terms: D000483:Alleles; D000818:Animals; D002874:Chromosome Mapping; D004247:DNA / Q000235:genetics; D004262:DNA Restriction Enzymes; D005260:Female; D005293:Ferritins / Q000235:genetics*; D005819:Genetic Markers; D006801:Humans; D006822:Hybrid Cells; D008297:Male; D010375:Pedigree; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic
chemical_list: D005819:Genetic Markers; D004247:DNA; D005293:Ferritins; D004262:DNA Restriction Enzymes