X-chromosome localization of the functional gene for the E1 alpha subunit of the human pyruvate dehydrogenase complex.

The functional gene locus for the E1 alpha subunit of the human pyruvate dehydrogenase complex has been localized to the p22.1-22.2 region of the X chromosome by in situ hybridization and analysis of somatic cell hybrids with various human X-chromosome rearrangements. Another locus showing significant cross-hybridization with an E1 alpha cDNA probe was detected on chromosome 4, in the region q22. The X-chromosome localization of the pyruvate dehydrogenase E1 alpha subunit gene provides a number of possible explanations for the clinical and biochemical variability which is a major feature of human pyruvate dehydrogenase deficiency.