The gene for the α4 subunit of the VLA-4 integrin maps to chromosome 2Q31-32

Abstract

The VLA-4 integrin (CD49d/CD29), initially discovered on lymphoid cells, is actually known to be highly expressed on T cells, B cells, monocytes, and derived cell lines. Unlike other VLA integrins, mainly involved in cell-matrix adhesive interactions, VLA-4 has also been implicated in several cellular interactions. Based on the published α4 cDNA sequence, a 1,142-bp α4 cDNA fragment was amplified using the polymerase chain reaction. This fragment was used to isolate three overlapping genomic clones from a phage library. By Southern analysis with the cDNA probe, and using the polymerase chain reaction on DNA isolated from a panel of human/mouse somatic cell hybrids, the α4 gene was mapped to chromosome 2. Fluorescence in situ hybridization confirmed this assignment and allowed a more precise mapping to chromosome 2q31-32. © 1991 by The American Society of Hematology.