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Expression of VEGF Splice Variants 144/145 and 205/206 in Adult Male Tissues
Author(s) -
Burchardt Tatjana,
Burchardt Martin,
Chen MinWei,
Buttyan Ralph,
De La Taille Alexandre,
Shabsigh Ahmad,
Shabsigh Ridwan
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
iubmb life
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.132
H-Index - 113
eISSN - 1521-6551
pISSN - 1521-6543
DOI - 10.1080/713803545
Subject(s) - biology , alternative splicing , vascular endothelial growth factor , messenger rna , gene isoform , complementary dna , microbiology and biotechnology , amino acid , splice , placenta , rna splicing , gene , vegf receptors , fetus , genetics , rna , cancer research , pregnancy
Currently, at least five different mRNA species encoding vascular endothelial growth factor‐A (VEGF‐A) have been characterized. These variants result from alternative splicing of the VEGF‐A transcript and encode human isoforms of VEGF protein of 121, 145, 165, 189, and 206 amino acids. In the rat, a similar profile of VEGF‐A splice variants has been described, each encoding one fewer amino acid than the human species. Studies of mammalian tissues have shown that these mRNA isoforms vary in abundance. Whereas VEGF 188/189, 164/165, and 120/121 (rat/human, respectively) are the predominant forms expressed in most tissues and cells examined, VEGF 144/145 and 205/206 are rare variants. Previously, VEGF 144/145 had been detected only in placental and uterine tissues and endometrial carcinoma cell lines, whereas VEGF 205/206 was detected only in fetal liver and placenta. Using an RTPCR technique, cDNA cloning, and sequencing, we have detected and confirmed the presence of mRNA encoding VEGF 144/145 and 205/206 in both adult rat lung and penis. Therefore, these lowabundance VEGF splice variants have a more diverse expression pattern than originally predicted.