Murine Transforming Growth Factor-β2 cDNA Sequence and Expression in Adult Tissues and Embryos

Abstract

Murine transforming growth factor-β2 (TGF-β2) cDNAs were isolated from cDNA libraries derived from a differentiated murine embryonic carcinoma cell line, PCC3. The composite cDNA sequence is 4267 nucleotides long, including a 1217 nucleotides 5′-untranslated sequence, and encodes a murine TGF-β2 precursor of 414 amino acids with 96% identity to its human counterpart. Several consensus polyadenylation sequences are present in the 1807 nucleotides 3′-untranslated sequence. Five TGF-β2 mRNA species are observed in the developing mouse fetus and they show different patterns of expression during development. TGF-β2 mRNA expression was also examined in adult mouse tissues, in which four of the five RNA species were observed. TGF-β2 mRNAs were present in all adult mouse tissues examined, except liver, and was most abundant in placenta, the male submaxillary gland and lung. The patterns of expression suggest a physiological role for TGF-β2 both in embryonic development and in the maintenance of adult tissues.