Assignment of the ζ-Crystallin Gene (CRYZ) to Human Chromosome 1p22-p31 and Identification of Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphisms

ζ-Crystallin is a lens protein that has been associated with autosomal dominant congenital cataracts in guinea pigs and thus is a candidate for human congenital cataracts. We have assigned the ζ-crystallin gene (CRYZ) to human chromosome 1 using a Southern panel of 17 human-mouse somatic cell hybrids and regionally localized it to 1p22-p31 by fluorescence in situ hybridization. Five restriction fragment length polymorphisms were identified by analyzing the DNA from 10 unrelated, unaffected individuals. Our results will permit evaluation of its role in human cataractogenesis.