Murine FGF-12 and FGF-13: expression in embryonic nervous system, connective tissue and heart

Abstract

The molecular cloning of cDNAs encoding murine fibroblast growth factor-13 (FGF-13/FHF-2) and three isoforms of murine FGF-12 (FHF-1) is described. Like their highly conserved human counterparts, murine FGF-12 and FGF-13 are part of a distinct subfamily of FGF-like proteins characterized by a greater degree of amino acid sequence cross-homology and by conserved N-terminal domains which do not include secretion signal sequences. In addition to their expression in several adult tissues, both of these FGF genes are prominently and regionally expressed in midgestation mouse embryos, as revealed by in situ hybridization. Fgf12 and fgf13. RNAs were detected in developing central nervous system in cells outside the proliferating ependymal layer, and fgf13 RNA was also found throughout the peripheral nervous system. Fgf12 is expressed in developing soft connective tissue of the limb skeleton and in presumptive connective tissue linking vertebrae and ribs. Both FGF genes are also expressed in the myocardium of the heart, with fgf12 RNA found only in the atrial chamber and fgf13 RNA detected in both atrium and ventricle. On the basis of their novel structure and patterns of expression, FGF-12 and FGF-13 are anticipated to perform embryonic functions distinct from other known FGF molecules.

Genetic and clinical analysis of a large Dutch Gilles de la Tourette family

“…The minimum region stretches from D3S2436 to D3S240, has a size of 15.5 cM (7 Mb) and contains 31 genes. We selected four genes from the minimal region, Fibroblast growth factor 12 (Fgf12), 50 Hairy and enhancer of split 1 (Hes1), 51 Loc151963 and Urotensin 2 domain containing (Uts2b/Urp), 52 based on their expression in brain/ nervous system and sequenced the open reading frame. No mutations or unknown SNPs were detected.…”

Fibroblast Growth Factor Homologous Factors and the Islet Brain-2 Scaffold Protein Regulate Activation of a Stress-activated Protein Kinase

“…Our data base searches identified three of these four FHF genes, which we had originally referred to as FGFs (FGF-11 ϭ FHF3, FGF-12 ϭ FHF1, FGF-13 ϭ FHF2) (28,29,31), and FHF4 was given the alternative name FGF-14 (32). Since FHFs so far lack demonstrable FGF-like activity and since we have characterized an intracellular function for these factors, we now refer to these factors solely by the acronym FHF, in order to distinguish them from FGFs.…”

“…Since FHFs so far lack demonstrable FGF-like activity and since we have characterized an intracellular function for these factors, we now refer to these factors solely by the acronym FHF, in order to distinguish them from FGFs. Our previously described FGF-12A is now referred to as FHF1, whereas the alternatively spliced FGF-12B is herein referred to as FHF1B (28).…”

“…In contrast to IB1, however, IB2 interacts in vivo with fibroblast growth factor homologous factors (FHFs) (26). FHFs were initially identified by virtue of their sequence homology to fibroblast growth factors (FGFs) (27)(28)(29). However, FHFs are different from FGFs in several ways.…”

Roles of intracellular fibroblast growth factors in neural development and functions

“…Members of the FGF11 family are expressed in cerebral cortical neurons during development [5,7,9,21]. FGF13 is also widely distributed in the developing brain with an expression level ~5-fold higher than FGF11, FGF12 and FGF14 [7].…”