Nucleotide sequence of the putative human tyrosinase pseudogene.

We have cloned and sequenced the putative human tyrosinase pseudogene, which shares more than 98% nucleotide homology with exon 4 and exon 5 of the human tyrosinase gene including their flanking introns. Because of such a high homology, both the tyrosinase gene and its pseudogene could be amplified from genomic DNA by polymerase chain reaction. The nucleotide sequences presented thus enable us to discriminate the tyrosinase gene from its related sequences and are invaluable for a gene diagnosis of oculocutaneous albinism.