title: Activin B: precursor sequences, genomic structure and in vitro activities.
abstract: We report here the complete amino acid sequence of the human inhibin beta B-subunit as deduced from the sequence of cDNA and genomic clones. The primary translation product of the beta B mRNA predicts a protein of 407 amino acids, containing a prepro region of 292 amino acids separated by basic amino acids from the mature C-terminal 115 amino acids. Mammalian tissue culture cells transfected with a beta B-subunit expression plasmid secreted an activin B homodimer of approximately 22K mol wt. Coexpression of the beta A- and beta B-subunit mRNAs resulted in the secretion of the three forms of activin, A, AB, and B. Purified activin B was shown to elicit FSH release in an in vitro pituitary assay and trigger the accumulation of hemoglobin in K562 cells. The potency of activin B in both of these assays (ED50 approximately 2 ng/ml) was indistinguishable from that observed for activin A.
authors.affiliation: Department of Developmental Biology, Recovery Process R & D Sciences, Genentech Inc., South San Francisco, California 94080.
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Mason
authors.forename: L M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Berkemeier
authors.forename: C H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Schmelzer
authors.forename: R H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Schwall
mesh_terms: D028341:Activins; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D001483:Base Sequence; D015139:Blotting, Southern; D002460:Cell Line; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000378:metabolism; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007265:Inhibins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D004915:Leukemia, Erythroblastic, Acute / Q000378:metabolism; D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009842:Oligopeptides; D010455:Peptides / Q000235:genetics*; D012150:Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length; D011498:Protein Precursors / Q000235:genetics; D014162:Transfection
chemical_list: D006454:Hemoglobins; D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D009842:Oligopeptides; D010455:Peptides; D011498:Protein Precursors; C044147:activin B; D028341:Activins; C048617:myelopeptides; D007265:Inhibins; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone