Although some cases of dysplastic naevi (DN) and familial melanoma have been linked to anonymous markers on chromosome 1p36, the gene has not been identified. A candidate gene, RPA2, which codes for the 32 kDa subunit of replication protein A, is located in the 1p35-36 region. We examined the RPA2 gene in seven lymphoblastoid cell lines from members of melanoma-prone families linked to chromosome 1p36. Southern and Northern blot analyses showed the DNA and RNA bands were of normal size and intensity. DNA sequencing demonstrated no nucleotide alterations in the RPA2 cDNA. Western blot analysis exhibited normal electrophoretic migration and intensity of the RPA2 protein. These results indicate that alterations do not occur in the RPA2 gene in these DN/familial melanoma families linked to chromosome 1p36.