Clusterin (gene symbol: CLI) is a post-translationally nicked, two-chain plasma and tissue glycoprotein of 80 kDa. It forms high-density lipoprotein complexes with apolipoprotein A-I in plasma, functions as an inhibitor of the cytolytic reaction of the terminal complement proteins C5 to C9, and is secreted by Sertoli cells in large amounts into the seminal fluid. By isolating and characterizing three partially overlapping cosmid clones, we have established the complete physical map of the clusterin gene which spans about 20 kb. The subchromosomal position of the clusterin gene (CLI) and the order of CLI and the lipoprotein lipase (LPL) gene were determined by fluorescence in situ hybridization. We show that CLI, previously assigned to chromosome 8, is located on 8p21 proximal to the LPL locus. Based on this localization we consider clusterin as a novel candidate gene determining susceptibility to atherosclerosis.