Complete DNA Sequence and Characterization of a 330-kb VNTR-rich Region on Chromosome 6q27 That is Commonly Deleted in Ovarian Cancer

We report the complete genomic DNA sequence and the characterization of a 330-kb region on chromo-some 6q27 that is often deleted in ovarian cancers. Using computer programs to predict exonic sequences, we isolated four novel genes, HGC6.1-4, as well as the known AF-6 gene. None of the deduced products of the novel genes exhibited significant homology to previously known proteins. We also identified ten microsatellites and 12 different VNTR sequences within the target region. HGC6.3 contained a VNTR within a coding exon, each repeat consisting of 42 nucleotides; the predicted 14-amino-acid consensus unit is MTPTVFSSQHTAGG. At least nine different sizes of this VNTR locus were detected among 20 unre-lated DNA samples from Caucasians. The polymorphic markers and the transcript map documented here may contribute to identification of novel genes or allelic aberrations associated with the development of ovarian cancers. Key words: chromosome 6q27; DNA sequencing; VNTR; ovarian cancer 1. Introduction B