Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Letter
  • Published:

Computer-based characterization of epidermal growth factor precursor

Nature volume 307, pages 558–560 (1984)Cite this article

Abstract

The cDNA sequence of the precursor of mouse epidermal growth factor (EGFP) has recently been reported by two groups1,2, both of whom noted the presence of repeated similar segments, each about 40 residues long. One of these repeat units overlaps with the sequence of epidermal growth factor itself. The sequence of epidermal growth factor has been reported to be similar to that of pancreatic secretory trypsin inhibitor3 (PSTI) and a somewhat better match has been found with part of the sequence of bovine factor X4, one of the blood coagulating factors. We report here that there is an even stronger similarity between the sequences of some of the repeat units of epidermal growth factor precursor and certain segments in factor X. This sequence similarity is also apparent in comparisons with other blood coagulation factors. On the basis of these sequence comparisons we suggest a scheme for the evolution of the epidermal growth factor precursor. We have also identified certain structural features in the precursor sequence that bear on the way in which the mature epidermal growth factor is generated.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

  • Purchase on Springer Link
  • Instant access to full article PDF
Buy now

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Gray, A., Dull, T. J. & Ullrich, A. Nature, 303, 722–725 (1983).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Scott, J. et al. Science 221, 236–240 (1983).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Hunt, L. T., Barker, W. & Dayhoff, M. O. Biochem. biophys. Res. Commun. 60, 1020–1028 (1974).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Dayhoff, M. O. Atlas of Protein Sequences and Structures Vol. 5 & Suppl. 1–3 (1978).

    Google Scholar 

  5. Doolittle, R. F. Science 214, 149–159 (1981).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Needleman, S. B. & Wunsch, C. D. J. molec. Biol. 48, 443–53 (1970).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Waterman, M. S., Smith, T. F. & Beyer, W. A. Adv. Math. 20, 367–387 (1976).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Gotoh, O. J. molec. Biol. 162, 705–8 (1982).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Fitch, W. M. & Margoliash, E. Science 155, 279–284 (1967).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Chou, P. Y. & Fasman, G. D. A. Rev. Biochem. 47, 251–276 (1978).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Garnier, J., Osguthorpe, D. J. & Robson, B. J. molec. Biol. 120, 97–120 (1978).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Savage, C. R., Hash, J. H. & Cohen, S. J. biol. Chem. 248, 7669–7672 (1973).

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Katayama, K. et al. Proc. natn. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 76, 4990–4994 (1979).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Kyte, J. & Doolittle, R. F. J. molec. Biol. 157, 105–132 (1982).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Rose, J. K. et al. Proc. natn. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 77, 3884–3888 (1980).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Stern, D. M. et al. Proc. natn. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 80, 4119–4123 (1983).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Drakenberg, T. et al. Proc. natn. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 80, 1802–1806 (1983).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. McMullen, B. A. et al. Biochemistry 22, 2875–2884 (1983).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Marquardt, H. et al. Proc. natn. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 80, 4684–4688 (1983).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemistry, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, 92093, USA

    Russell F. Doolittle, Da Fei Feng & Mark S. Johnson

Authors
  1. Russell F. Doolittle
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Da Fei Feng
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Mark S. Johnson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Doolittle, R., Fei Feng, D. & Johnson, M. Computer-based characterization of epidermal growth factor precursor. Nature 307, 558–560 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1038/307558a0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/307558a0

This article is cited by

Comments

By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.

Search

Advanced search

Quick links

Nature Briefing

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing