EGF Like Domain Protein, Multiple 8 (EGFL8)

Epidermal growth factor has a profound effect on the differentiation of specific cells in vivo and is a potent mitogenic factor for a variety of cultured cells of both ectodermal and mesodermal origin. Fitch et al. (2004) cloned mouse Egfl8. The deduced 293-amino acid protein contains an N-terminal signal peptide, followed by an EGF-like domain and a Ca(2+)-binding EGF-like domain. Northern blot analysis detected highest Egfl8 expression in mouse kidney, brain, thymus, and lung. Egfl8 expression was not detected before embryonic day 11.5.The International Radiation Hybrid Mapping Consortium mapped the EGFL8 gene to chromosome 6 . Fitch et al. (2004) mapped the mouse gene to chromosome 17.