Cloning and characterization of the mouse tob2 gene

Human Tob2 is a member of the Tob/BTG1 anti-proliferative family of proteins. Here, we report the molecular cloning and characterization of the mouse tob2 gene. The tob2 gene contains an open reading frame of 345 amino acids with an 89% identity to its human counterparts. The coding region of mouse tob2 is not interrupted by introns. The tob2 transcript is 4.2kb long, the size being similar to that of the human tob2 transcript, and detected ubiquitously in various tissues of adult mice. In addition, in situ hybridization shows that tob2 is ubiquitously expressed in embryo, the level of expression being especially high in skeletal muscle. Collectively, Tob2 is suggested to play roles both during embryogenesis and in adults.