STRUCTURE AND EXPRESSION OF A NOVEL MEMBER, FGF-16, OF THE FIBROBLASTGROWTH-FACTOR FAMILY

We have isolated cDNA encoding a novel member (207 amino acids) of the FGF family from the rat heart by homology-based polymerase chain reac tion. As this protein is the 16th documented member of the FGF family, we tentatively term it FGF-16. Among FGF family members, FGF-16 is mo st similar (73% amino acid identity) to FGF-9. We have also determined the structure of human FGF-16 with high amino acid sequence identity (98.6%) to rat FGF-16. Although the predicted FGF-16 amino acid sequen ce lacks a typical signal sequence, recombinant rat FGF-16 was efficie ntly secreted by Sf9 insect cells infected with recombinant baculoviru s containing the cDNA. FGF-16 mRNA was predominantly expressed in the rat heart among the adult major tissues examined. The expression profi le of FGF-16 mRNA was quite different from those of other members of t he FGF family. in rat embryos, FGF-16 mRNA was predominantly expressed in the brown adipose tissue. However, the expression decreased greatl y after birth. These results indicate that PGF-16 in embryos might pla y a role in development of the brown adipose tissue. (C) 1998 Academic Press.