High-resolution chromosomal localization of the beta-gene of the human beta-globin gene complex by in situ hybridization.

A 4.4-kb PstI fragment containing the entire beta-gene of the human beta-globin gene cluster plus both 5'- and 3'-flanking sequences was used as a probe to study the chromosomal localization of the beta-gene by in situ hybridization. Using random oligonucleotides as primers, the beta-gene DNA was 3H-labeled with the large fragment of DNA polymerase I (Klenow fragment) to a specific activity of 1.2 X 10(8) cpm/micrograms. Almost 80% of hybridization grains observed were located on the distal short arm of chromosome 11. High-resolution chromosome analysis suggests a more precise location of the beta-gene to region 11p15.4----p15.5.