Structure and expression of a novel rat RegIII gene.

Abstract We have isolated a rat cDNA and a novel gene, Reg (regeneration-promoting gene). The cDNA encodes a 174-aminoacid (aa) RegIII protein with a 25-aa signal peptide. The RegIII gene spans 2.7 kb and consists of six exons and five introns. RegIII was expressed in regenerating pancreatic islets, but not in normal islets.