Al. Lau et al., STRUCTURAL-ANALYSIS OF THE MOUSE ACTIVIN BETA-C GENE, Biochimica et biophysica acta, N. Gene structure and expression, 1307(2), 1996, pp. 145-148
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 propep
tide 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 similar to 2.1 kb. The liver-specific
expression of activin beta C suggests an important role of dimeric ac
tivin beta C in normal liver function. These studies allow us to addre
ss the function of activin beta C in mammalian development.