PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain a new growth factor comprising a protein having similarity and dissimilarity in a specific ratio to a specific amino acid sequence and exhibiting properties in common with vascular endothelial growth factor, being effector of central nervous system and inducing proliferation of astroglia. SOLUTION: This new growth factor comprises a biologically separated new protein having at least about 15% similarity but at least about 5% dissimilarity to the sequence described in the formula and exhibiting at least one property in common with vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and is useful in the treatment, prophylaxis, diagnosis, etc., of conditions requiring enhanced or diminished vasculature and/or vascular permeability and is also a useful effector of central neurons and is capable of inducing astroglial proliferation. The growth factor is obtained by screening a human fetal brain library with the cosmid, integrating the resultant gene into an expression system to form a nucleic acid molecule encoding a recombinant molecule and expressing the nucleic acid molecule with a host cell.
NEW GROWTH FACTOR AND GENETIC SEQUENCE ENCODING THE SAME