Fusions to members of fibroblast growth factor gene family to study nuclear translocation and nonclassic exocytosis

Abstract

Publisher Summary The fibroblast growth factor (FGF) gene family includes at least 19 genes encoding proteins that regulate proliferation, differentiation, motility, and survival of cells of neuroectodermal and mesodermal origin. This chapter describes the fusions to members of FGF gene family to study nuclear translocation and nonclassic exocytosis. The two most abundantly expressed representatives of the family are the prototypes FGF-1 and FGF-2, which are involved in the regulation of a wide variety of developmental, pathological, and regenerative processes in mammalian organisms, including humans. Among these processes are mesodermal induction, limb formation, angiogenesis, skeletal muscle growth and regeneration, the growth and metastasis of certain types of solid tumors, atherosclerosis, and restenosis. The chapter discusses the types of protein chimeras used for the study of fibroblast growth. The protein fusion approach to the study of FGF translocations is not limited to the use of reporter genes. Known nuclear localization signal (NLS) sequences from other proteins have been used for fusion with the FGFs to direct their nuclear translocation. A comparative study of FGF-1 and FGF-2 nuclear localization and release includes the shuffling of homologous regions/domains between these two proteins.