Identification of an Alternatively Spliced mRNA Transcript of Human Betacellulin Lacking the C-Loop of the EGF Motif and the Transmembrane Domain

Abstract

This paper describes the cloning and characterization of a novel cDNA encoding a short form of betacellulin (BTC-β), and reports the expression of this mRNA in a variety of human tissues and cell types. BTC-β is likely the result of alternative splicing. This splicing event leads to the generation of an mRNA encoding an unusual BTC precursor in which the C-loop of the EGF domain and the transmembrane domain are deleted while the remainder of the mature molecule is fused in-frame to the C-terminal cytoplasmic tail.

Key Words:

• BTC
• ErbB receptor
• alternative splicing
• expression