title: Using bacterial artificial chromosomes in leukemia research: the experience at the university cytogenetics laboratory in Brest, France.
abstract: The development of the bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) system was driven in part by the human genome project in order to construct genomic DNA libraries and physical maps for genomic sequencing. The availability of BAC clones has become a valuable tool for identifying cancer genes. We report here our experience in identifying genes located at breakpoints of chromosomal rearrangements and in defining the size and boundaries of deletions in hematological diseases. The methodology used in our laboratory consists of a three-step approach using conventional cytogenetics followed by FISH with commercial probes, then BAC clones. One limitation to the BAC system is that it can only accommodate inserts of up to 300 kb. As a consequence, analyzing the extent of deletions requires a large amount of material. Array comparative genomic hybridization (array-CGH) using a BAC/PAC system can be an alternative. However, this technique has limitations also, and it cannot be used to identify candidate genes at breakpoints of chromosomal rearrangements such as translocations, insertions, and inversions.
authors.affiliation: Faculté de Médecine et des Sciences de la Santé, Université de Brest, 22, Avenue Camille Desmoulins, CS 93837, F-29238 Brest Cedex 3, France.
authors.forename: Etienne
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: De Braekeleer
authors.forename: Nathalie
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Douet-Guilbert
authors.forename: Audrey
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Basinko
authors.forename: Frédéric
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Morel
authors.forename: Marie-Josée
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Le Bris
authors.forename: Claude
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Férec
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: De Braekeleer
mesh_terms: D035843:Biomedical Research; D022202:Chromosomes, Artificial, Bacterial; D020732:Cytogenetic Analysis / Q000379:methods*; D005602:France; D006801:Humans; D007938:Leukemia / Q000235:genetics*