부산대학교 도서관

Objective: To analyze the genetic sequence(s) of transforming growth factor-beta receptor type I (TGFβ-RJ) serine/threonine kinase domain in non-neoplastic and neoplastic hepatcytes. Materials and Methods: Eight sets of hepatoma and adjacent normal liver tissues from the same patients were analyzed. The total RNAs extracted from various tissues were converted into cDNAs using oligo-d (T) primer. The genetic sequence(s) of the TGFβ-RJ serine/threonine kinase domain were determined after the PCR amplification of these cDNAs. Results: (1) No sequence variation in the ALK-1 (activin receptor-like kinase) serine/threonine kinase domain was observed between hepatoma and adjacent normal liver tissues in eight pairs of samples. (2) There was no deletion or insertion in the serine/threonine kinase domains of ALK-1, ALK-2, and ALK-5 in the samples analyzed. (3) Three nucleotides in the sequence of ALK-1 serine/threonine kinase domain derived from the Mrna of liver tissues were different from those mRNAs derived from other tissues. Conclusions: Our data suggest that the variation or mutation of TGFβ-RJ type I receptors, unlike TGFβ-RJ type II receptors, is not responsible for the development of hepatoma, and that there exists a specific sequence in the serine/threonine kinase domain of ALK-1 in liver cells.