title: Structural analysis of the mouse activin beta C gene.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
authors.forename: A L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Lau
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nishimori
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Matzuk
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D018076:DNA, Complementary; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D028341:Activins; D007265:Inhibins