The gene that encodes the human CD20 (B1) differentiation antigen is located on chromosome 11 near the t(11;14)(q13;q32) translocation site.

The human CD20 gene (B1) encodes a B lymphocyte-specific, cell-surface molecule that is involved in B cell activation and differentiation. We report that the CD20 gene is located on human chromosome 11 at position q12-q13. The location of CD20 was determined by in situ hybridization and was further confirmed by Southern blot analysis of DNA from rodent/human hybrids that contained only portions of human chromosome 11. This localization places the CD20 gene near the site of the t(11;14)(q13;q32) translocation that is found in a subgroup of B cell-lineage malignancies. The site of this translocation has been previously identified by DNA cloning and termed bcl-1. The CD20 gene was found to lie on the centromeric side of bcl-1 on chromosome 11 and to be separated from bcl-1 by at least 50 kb of DNA. These results raise the possibility that alterations in the expression of the CD20 gene may result after the t(11;14) chromosomal alteration.