Structural analysis of the mouse activin beta C gene.
Using a mouse activin beta C cDNA probe, we have cloned over 38 kb of genomic DNA encompassing the mouse activin beta C gene. Mouse activin beta C is encoded by 2 exons separated by a large 12.1 kb intron. Exon 1 encodes the 17 amino acid signal peptide and 88 amino acids of the propeptide. Exon 2 encodes the remaining 130 amino acids of the propeptide and the entire 117 amino acid mature peptide. Unlike the activin beta A and beta B expression patterns, Northern blot analysis of adult mouse tissues shows that the activin beta C mRNA is expressed only in the liver as a major species of approximately 2.1 kb. The liver-specific expression of activin beta C suggests an important role of dimeric activin beta C in normal liver function. These studies allow us to address the function of activin beta C in mammalian development.
Lau
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AL
Department of Pathology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
Nishimori
K
K
Matzuk
M M
MM
D028341:Activins; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D018076:DNA, Complementary; D005091:Exons; D007265:Inhibins / Q000235:genetics*; D007438:Introns; D051379:Mice; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics
D018076:DNA, Complementary; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D028341:Activins; D007265:Inhibins