title: Expression of the human growth hormone variant gene in cultured fibroblasts and transgenic mice.
abstract: The nucleotide sequence of the human growth hormone variant gene, one of the five members of the growth hormone gene family, predicts that it encodes a growth hormone-like protein. As a first step in determining whether this gene is functional in humans, we have expressed a mouse metallothionein I/human growth hormone variant fusion gene in mouse L cells and in transgenic mice. The growth hormone variant protein expressed in transiently transfected L cells is distinct from growth hormone itself with respect to reactivity with anti-growth hormone monoclonal antibodies, behavior during column chromatography, and isoelectric point. Transgenic mice expressing the growth hormone variant protein are 1.4- to 1.9-fold larger than nontransgenic controls, suggesting that the protein has growth-promoting properties.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Biology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston 02114.
authors.forename: R F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Selden
authors.forename: T E
authors.initials: TE
authors.lastname: Wagner
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Blethen
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Yun
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Rowe
authors.forename: H M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Goodman
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000378:metabolism*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D007526:Isoelectric Point; D008668:Metallothionein / Q000235:genetics; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D010903:Pituitary Gland, Anterior / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D008668:Metallothionein