Abstract: 479

IDENTIFICATION OF A NOVEL PLATELET DERIVED GROWTH FACTOR-LIKE GENE FALLOTEIN IN THE HUMAN REPRODUCTIVE TRACT.

Yuan-Jang Tsai¹ , Robert Kuo-Kuang Lee^{1 2 3} , Shau-Ping Lin¹
Department of Medical Research, Mackay Memorial Hospital, Tamshui, Taiwan ¹
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Mackay Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan ²
School of Medicine, China Medical College. Taichung, Taiwan ³

Partial nucleotide sequences of a human expressed sequence tag (EST) entry (accession: W21436) were amplified from oviduct cDNA using epidermal growth factor-specific oligonucleotide primer pairs, since EST database consists of partial cDNA sequences from various tissues, analysis of the EST database is becoming a powerful approach to look for new members of gene family. So we speculated that EST W21436 might contain partial cDNA sequences of a novel EGF family gene. We then constructed a human endometrium cDNA library to clone the full-length cDNA of the novel gene, which was 3007 bases in length and encoded for a novel protein of 345 amino acids. The novel gene was named fallotein. The fallotein protein can be divided into three portions. The first 15 amino acids resemble the signal peptide of the secretory protein. The middle portion, from amino acid 50 to 162 (113 residues), is most homologous to the CUB domain of the axon guiding molecule, neuropilin. The C-terminal end contains a 151-amino acid motif homologous to the platelet derived growth factor family, especially vascular endothelial growth factor. Fallotein mRNA is expressed in two molecular sizes, 3.8 and 2.9 kb, with the former being most abundant. The transcription levels of fallotein in prostate, testis and uterus are higher than in spleen, thymus and small intestine, but the expression of fallotein in the colon and peripheral blood leukocytes is negligible. We hereby report the identification of this novel gene, putatively encoding a secretory protein with a growth factor-like domain and a domain resembling an axon guiding molecule. We thus infer that fallotein might have growth regulatory activity.

    This abstract is being presented on Tuesday, August 3 at 8:00 AM to 10:15 AM at CUB 2nd Floor Ballroom.