Follistatin Like Protein 3 (FSTL3)

Follistatin-like 3 is a secreted glycoprotein of the follistatin-module-protein family. It may have a role in leukemogenesis.The FSTL3 cDNA, which they called FLRG (follistatin-related gene), encodes a deduced 263-amino acid protein that shares 85% amino acid identity with mouse Fstl3. It contains 2 cysteine-rich repeats that are closely related to the class 1-1 follistatin modules present in other follistatin family members. Northern blot analysis demonstrated expression of a 2.5-kb transcript in placenta, amniocytes, chorionic villosities, and bone marrow stromal cells, with weaker expression in fibroblasts, keratinocytes, and endothelial cells. A 1.3-kb transcript was also detected in some human tissues and was thought to result from use of an alternate polyadenylation site.