Isolation of a human placenta cDNA coding for a protein related to the vascular permeability factor.

TLDR

PlGF is a 149‑amino‑acid protein highly homologous (53 % identity) to the platelet‑derived growth factor–like region of human vascular permeability factor. The authors isolated a human placenta cDNA encoding placenta growth factor (PlGF) and demonstrated its N‑glycosylation and secretion from transfected COS‑1 cells using enzymatic digestion, tunicamycin inhibition, and specific antibodies. Computational analysis predicts a signal peptide and two N‑glycosylation sites (one conserved with VPF); experimentally, PlGF is dimeric, N‑glycosylated, secreted, and its conditioned medium selectively stimulates endothelial cell growth.

Abstract

A human cDNA coding for a protein related to the vascular permeability factor (VPF) was isolated from a term placenta cDNA library; we therefore named its product placenta growth factor (PlGF). PlGF is a 149-amino-acid-long protein and is highly homologous (53% identity) to the platelet-derived growth factor-like region of human VPF. Computer analyses reveal a putative signal peptide and two probable N-glycosylation sites in the PlGF protein, one of which is also conserved in human VPF. By using N-glycosidase F, tunicamycin, and specific antibodies produced in both chicken and rabbit, we demonstrate that PlGF, derived from transfected COS-1 cells, is actually N-glycosylated and secreted into the medium. In addition, PlGF, like VPF, proves to be a dimeric protein. Finally, a conditioned medium from COS-1 cells containing PlGF is capable of stimulating specifically the growth of CPA, a line of endothelial cells, in vitro.