Regional localization of the human vitronectin receptor alpha subunit gene (VNRA) to chromosome 2q31-->q32.

The vitronectin receptor (av:beta 3; CD51/CD61), a member of the beta 3 integrin subfamily (cytoadhesins), functions as a receptor for a group of proteins that includes vitronectin, fibrinogen, thrombospondin, and von Willebrand factor. The human locus for the av gene (VNRA) was previously mapped to the long arm of chromosome 2 by DNA analysis of somatic cell hybrids. By using fluorescence in situ hybridization, coupled with GTG-banding, we have regionally mapped the human av gene to chromosome 2q31-->q32. An identical location was previously reported for the human gene coding for the integrin VLA-alpha 4 subunit (CD49D). These data, therefore, suggest the existence of a cluster of integrin genes at this chromosomal location.