title: Fibroblast growth factor 9 secretion is mediated by a non-cleaved amino-terminal signal sequence.
abstract: Fibroblast growth factors are a family of intercellular signaling molecules with multiple and varied roles in animal development. Most are exported from cells by means of a classical amino-terminal signal sequence that is cleaved from the mature protein during its passage through the secretory pathway. Fibroblast growth factor-9 (Fgf-9) does not contain a recognizable signal sequence, although it is efficiently secreted. In this study, we show that Fgf-9 enters the endoplasmic reticulum and traverses the Golgi complex in a similar manner to other constitutively secreted proteins. Deletion and point mutation analysis has revealed an atypical non-cleaved signal sequence within the amino-terminal region of Fgf-9. Moreover, the first 28 amino acids of Fgf-9 can function as an efficient non-cleaved signal peptide when appended to the amino terminus of green fluorescent protein.
authors.affiliation: Imperial Cancer Research Fund, 44 Lincoln's Inn Fields, London WC2A 3PX, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Revest
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: DeMoerlooze
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Dickson
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001681:Biological Assay; D001692:Biological Transport; D002451:Cell Compartmentation; D004721:Endoplasmic Reticulum / Q000378:metabolism; D051525:Fibroblast Growth Factor 9; D005346:Fibroblast Growth Factors; D006031:Glycosylation; D006056:Golgi Apparatus / Q000378:metabolism; D006133:Growth Substances / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D051379:Mice; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D011499:Protein Processing, Post-Translational; D021382:Protein Sorting Signals; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D017384:Sequence Deletion
chemical_list: C496460:Fgf9 protein, mouse; D051525:Fibroblast Growth Factor 9; D006133:Growth Substances; D021382:Protein Sorting Signals; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D005346:Fibroblast Growth Factors