The chromosomal location of the human VpreB gene was determined by Southern blotting analysis of restriction enzyme-digested DNAs from a panel of 17 mouse-human somatic cell hybrids. The pattern of hybridization of a Vpre B-specific probe in conjunction with earlier analysis of several marker genes allowed the following conclusions: 1) Vpre B is on human chromosome 22 within band 22q11.2 distal to the bcr-like gene, bcr-2 and proximal to the bcr-like gene, bcr-4. 2) Vpre B has been localized relative to several constitutional and tumor-specific breakpoints within 22q11.2, segregates in hybrids retaining 22q- chromosomes with some but not with all members of the V lambda 1 subgroup of the V lambda genes, and is amplified with these genes in K562 cells. 3) The order of the loci on chromosome 22 is centromere----bcr-2, Vpre B, V lambda 1----bcr-4----C lambda----bcr-1----bcr-3----sis.