Abstract
Recombinant plasmids containing rat albumin cDNA were radiolabeled and hybridized in situ to metaphase chromosome preparations of Wistar strain rats. Results showed that in a significantly high percentage of the hybridized cells (27%) silver grains were located on the distal portion of chromosome 2: silver grains on this portion amounted to 17% of all the chromosomal label. Thus the albumin gene locus is mapped on chromosome 2. Therefore, the sixth linkage group, including the gene loci of albumin, the plasma protein pattern (Gl-1) and a coat color (h), is probably located on chromosome 2. The chromosomal location of the albumin gene was examined in an albumin-deficient strain of Sprague-Dawley rats. Of the silver grains, 18% were located on the distal region of chromosome 2. These findings support the previous conclusion that the albumin gene is not deleted from analbuminemic rats, and also indicate that the albumin gene locus is not displaced in these rats.
