CLONING AND CHARACTERIZATION OF THE HUMAN MEGAKARYOCYTE GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT FACTOR (MGDF) GENE

The megakaryocyte growth and development factor (MGDF) is a cytokine t hat regulates megakaryocyte development and is a ligand for the MPL re ceptor, In this study, we describe the genomic structure of the human MGDF gene. The MGDF gene was found to consist of seven exons and six i ntrons spanning 8 kilobases. The protein is encoded by exons 3 through 7. The human MGDF gene has been mapped to chromosome 3q26.3. In addit ion to the previously described full-length cDNA, two cDNA variants we re isolated from human fetal liver. Comparison of these two cDNA seque nces with the genomic sequence indicates that they arise by differenti al splicing.