| First Author | Lok S | Year | 1994 |
| Journal | Nature | Volume | 369 |
| Issue | 6481 | Pages | 565-8 |
| PubMed ID | 8202158 | Mgi Jnum | J:18896 |
| Mgi Id | MGI:67116 | Doi | 10.1038/369565a0 |
| Citation | Lok S, et al. (1994) Cloning and expression of murine thrombopoietin cDNA and stimulation of platelet production in vivo [see comments]. Nature 369(6481):565-8 |
| abstractText | The major regulator of circulating platelet levels is believed to be a cytokine termed thrombopoietin. It is thought to be a lineage-specific cytokine affecting the proliferation and maturation of committed cells resulting in the production of megakaryocytes and platelets. Despite considerable efforts by a number of laboratories, the unequivocal identification of thrombopoietin has proven elusive. Here we report the functional cloning of a murine complementary DNA encoding a ligand for the receptor encoded by the c-mpl proto-oncogene (c-Mpl). The encoded polypeptide has a predicted molecular mass of 35,000 (M(r) 35K). The protein has a novel two-domain structure with an amino-terminal domain homologous with erythropoietin and a carboxy-terminal domain rich in serine, threonine and proline residues and containing seven potential N-linked glycosylation sites. Intraperitoneal injections of mice with recombinant protein increase circulating platelet levels by greater than fourfold after 7 days. These results along with those presented in the accompanying report strongly suggest that the ligand for c-Mpl is thrombopoietin. |
