Murine Bv8 gene maps near a synteny breakpoint of mouse chromosome 6 and human 3p21

The genomic structure of the murine Bv8 gene was determined in 129/SvJ mous e, and the chromosomal localization was identified. Bv8 has first been char acterized from skin secretion of the yellow-bellied toad, Bombina variegata . When injected into rat brain, this polypetide causes hyperalgesia. The mu rine Bv8;9 gene was shown to consist of four exons and was localized on chr omosome 6 between the microsatellite markers D6Mit66 and D6Mit36 near the g ene mem1, whereas the human counterpart was assigned to the non-syntenic re gion 3p21.1. Furthermore, the primary Bv8 transcript appeared to be alterna tively spliced. The first variant contained all four exons yielding a produ ct with a stretch highly enriched in basic amino acids in its central part. This domain is absent in the peptides from frog as well as in a splice var iant expressed in mouse testis. A third variant gives rise to a truncated p olypeptide. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.