A somatic cell hybrid mapping panel was constructed to localize cloned DNA sequences to any of 15 potentially different regions of human chromosome 17. Relatively high-resolution mapping is possible for 50% of the chromosome length in which 12 breakpoints are distributed over approximately 45 megabases, with an average spacing estimated at 1 breakpoint every 2-7 megabases. This high-resolution capability includes the pericentromeric region of 17 to which von Recklinghausen neurofibromatosis (NF1) has recently been mapped. Using 20 cloned genes and anonymous probes, we have tested the expected order and location of panel breakpoints and confirmed, refined, or corrected the regional assignment of several cloned genes and anonymous probes. Four markers with varying degrees of linkage to NF1 have been physically localized and ordered by the panel: the loosely linked markers myosin heavy chain 2 (25 cM) to p12----13.105 and nerve growth factor receptor (14 cM) to q21.1----q23; the more closely linked pABL10-41 (D17S71, 5 cM) to p11.2; and the tightly linked pHHH202 (D17S33) to q11.2-q12. Thus, physical mapping of linked markers confirms a pericentromeric location of NF1 and, along with other data, suggests the most likely localization is proximal 17q.