Abstract
The fibroblast growth factor (FGF) family of signaling molecules has been implicated in normal developmental and physiological processes, as well as in human malignancy. Using a homology-based genomic DNA mining process, we identified a human gene encoding a novel member of the FGF family, that we designate FGF-20. The FGF-20 cDNA was isolated, and its sequence confirmed the gene prediction. FGF-20 is expressed in normal brain, particularly the cerebellum, and in some cancer cell lines. Recombinant FGF-20 protein induces DNA synthesis in a variety of cell types and is recognized by multiple FGF receptors. Ectopic expression of FGF-20 in NIH 3T3 cells renders the cells transformed in vitro and tumorigenic in nude mice. These results underscore the utility of mining genomic DNA databases and reveal FGF-20 to be a novel oncogene that may play a role in human cancer.
MeSH terms
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3T3 Cells / metabolism
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Amino Acid Sequence
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Animals
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Base Sequence
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Cell Division / drug effects
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Cell Division / genetics
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Cell Transformation, Neoplastic* / genetics
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DNA / biosynthesis
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DNA / genetics
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DNA, Complementary / genetics
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DNA, Complementary / isolation & purification
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Fibroblast Growth Factors / genetics
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Fibroblast Growth Factors / pharmacology
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Fibroblast Growth Factors / physiology*
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Humans
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Mice
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Mice, Nude
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Molecular Sequence Data
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Polymerase Chain Reaction
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RNA, Messenger / biosynthesis
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RNA, Messenger / genetics
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Receptors, Fibroblast Growth Factor / metabolism
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Recombinant Proteins / biosynthesis
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Recombinant Proteins / genetics
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Recombinant Proteins / pharmacology
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Sequence Homology, Amino Acid
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Substrate Specificity
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Transfection
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Xenopus
Substances
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DNA, Complementary
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FGF20 protein, human
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Fgf20 protein, mouse
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RNA, Messenger
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Receptors, Fibroblast Growth Factor
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Recombinant Proteins
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Fibroblast Growth Factors
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DNA