THE MURINE LEUKEMIA INHIBITION-FACTOR GENE (LIF) IS LOCATED ON PROXIMAL CHROMOSOME-11, NOT CHROMOSOME-13

Lif, the murine gene encoding leukemia inhibition factor (LIF), has been previously localized to proximal Chromosome (Chr) 11. Hilda, the murine gene encoding "human interleukin in DA cells" (HILDA) has been localized to Chr 13. Since these two growth factors are identical, the proposal for two different structural loci is intriguing. To address this issue, blot hybridization methods have been used to establish the position of the structural gene sequence unambiguously. DNAs from somatic cell hybrids, recombinant inbred mice, and backcross mice have been probed with a sequence that encodes LIF/HILDA. The results support the assignment of this sequence to proximal Chr 11. These studies also establish a synteny group, including Lif and Tcn-2, the structural gene for transcobalamin 2, that is conserved between man and mouse.