Human epidermal type I transglutaminase coexists in keratinocytes with another cross-linking enzyme, tissue type II transglutaminase. There are at least five different forms of the enzyme in mammals. Gene mapping studies allowed us to determine whether the different transglutaminases are products of the same gene or separate genes. The gene encoding factor XIII subunit a transglutaminase (F13A1) was previously assigned to human chromosome 6, p24----p25. We demonstrate using somatic cell hybrids that the human epidermal type I transglutaminase gene (gene symbol is designated TGM1) is located on human chromosome 14, providing evidence that at least two human transglutaminases are encoded by separate genes.