A Cluster of Transfer RNA Genes (TRM1, TRR3, and TRAN) on the Short Arm of Human Chromosome 6

We have isolated two lambda clones that contain three transfer RNA (tRNA) genes (TRM1, TRR3, and TRAN). Both clones map to the same region (6p21.2–p22.3) of the short arm of chromosome 6. One clone contains a methionine tRNA gene and also an arginine tRNA gene, the first such human gene to be described. The other clone contains an alanine tRNA gene, again the first such human gene to be reported, and it differs from the species of human alanine tRNA transcripts sequenced to date. These clones have been used to investigate the structure of this tRNA gene cluster. The results of both conventional and pulsed-field gel analysis suggest that the alanine tRNA gene is a member of a low-copy repeat series at this location. The other clone is not located within this domain and appears to be a unique segment of DNA. Nevertheless, we also show that at least half of the methionine tRNA genes are located on the short arm of this chromosome, and if these are also located at 6p21.2–p22.3, this would constitute another major tRNA locus in human.