Assignment of the structural gene coding for albumin to human chromosome 4

Albumin is a developmentally regulated serum protein synthesized in the liver mainly during adulthood. Family studies using variant forms of albumin established autosomal linkage between albumin and group-specific component protein (GS). Since GC has been assigned to human chromosome 4, albumin can be indirectly assigned to the same chromosome; however no direct assignment has been made. Recently, the human albumin cDNA probe has been isolated and characterized. It thus permits a direct chromosomal assignment of the albumin gene in the human genome. When the cDNA probe was hybridized to the HindIII digested total human DNA, an intense band at 6.8 kb was present. When the probe was hybridized to the HindIII digested Chinese hamster CHO-K1 DNA, a less intense band at 3.5 kb was found, plus three other faint bands. When the probe was hybridized to a series of human/CHO-K1 cell hybrids retaining a complete hamster genome and various combinations of human chromosomes, it was evident that hybrids containing human albumin gene sequences could be readily distinguished from hybrids containing no human albumin gene. Analysis of 22 primary cell hybrids for the presence or absence of human albumin sequences has assigned the albumin gene to human chromosome 4. Similar results were obtained using another restriction endonuclease EcoR1. Thus, by direct assay of the genomic albumin gene sequences in the cell hybrids, we provide evidence for a direct assignment of the structural gene for human albumin to chromosome 4.