Human TGFb2

TGF-beta 2 (transforming growth factor beta 1) is one of three closely related mammalian members of the large TGF-beta superfamily that share a characteristic cystine knot structure . TGF-beta 1, -2 and -3 are highly pleiotropic cytokines that are proposed to act as cellular switches that regulate processes such as immune function, proliferation and epithelial-mesenchymal transition . Each TGF-beta isoform has some non_redundant functions; the TGFB2 gene, which encodes transforming growth factor _2 (TGF_2), making it an obvious candidate gene for this aneurysm phenotype with MFS- and LDS-like features.Human TGF_ beta 2 cDNA encodes a 414 amino acid (aa) precursor that contains a 20 aa signal peptide and a 394 aa proprotein . A furin_like convertase processes the proprotein to generate an N_terminal 282 aa latency_associated peptide (LAP) and a C_terminal 112 aa mature TGF_ beta 2 (1-5).