Localization of a Human-Specific Retroposon (SINE-R.C2) to Chromosome 6p21.31 by Radiation Hybrid Mapping

A human-specific retroposon SINE-R.C2 has been derived from a human endogenous retrovirus HER V-K 10. It is absent in the genome of nonhuman primates and present within the third intron of the human C2 gene that is located in the class III region of the major histocompatibility complex. In the present study, we determined the regional location of the human C2 gene. The analysis of the Genebridge 4 radiation hybrid mapping panel using PCR amplification located the C2 gene between D6S1422 (10.1 cR) and CHLC.GATA4A03 (21.3) with a lod score of>3.0. This allowed us to localize C2 gene on the human chromosome 6 band p21.31.