Molecular cloning and characterization of a mouse homolog of human TNFSF14, a member of the TNF superfamily

A member of the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) superfamily, human TNFSF14 (hTN FSF14)/HVEM-L (herpes virus entry mediator ligand) was isolated as a cellul ar ligand for HVEM/TR2 and human lymphotoxin beta receptor (LT beta R), TNF SF14 induces apoptosis and suppresses tumor formation. We have isolated a c DNA clone for a mouse homologue of hTNFSF14 by signal sequence trap (SST) s creening which we recently developed. The deduced amino acid sequence of th e mouse TNFSF14 (mTNFSF14) cDNA comprised 239 amino acid residues and was 7 7 % identical to the hTNFSF14 protein. In Northern blot analysis, 2.1 kb an d 4.2kb mTNFSF14 transcripts were detected in spleen and lung, and in heart , respectively. Fluorescence in situ hybridization analysis localized the m TNFSF14 gene Tnfsf14 to chromosome 17 which is tightly linked with Tnf; Lta , and Ltb. Copyright (C) 2000 S. Karger AG, Basel.