Human brain fibroblast growth factor

Abstract
Fibroblast growth factor (FGF) has been purified to homogeneity from human brain by a procedure involving salt precipitation, cation‐exchange chromatography, Heparin‐Sepharose affinity chromatography and reverse‐phase HPLC. Isolation was monitored by radioimmunoassay and/or by testing column fractions for their capacity to stimulate the proliferation of vascular endothelial cells in vitro. The amino‐terminal sequence of human brain FGF was, determined as Pro‐Ala‐Leu‐Pro‐Glu‐Asp‐Gly‐Gly‐Ser‐Gly‐Ala‐PhePro‐. This sequence is identical to that of the amino‐terminal region of bovine FGF. Additional evidence, including amino acid composition, Chromatographie retention behavior, and immunoreactivity suggest that the human and bovine mitogens are very similarin structure.