US Patent 7368553 Alternatively spliced nucleic acid molecules

The invention provides an isolated or purified nucleic acid molecule comprising SEQ ID NO:1, which contains cDNA comprising exons 1-5 of a vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) joined to genomic DNA comprising introns 5, 6, and 7 and exons 6, 7, and 8 of VEGF and a mutation in one or more of the splice donor, branch point, and splice acceptor regions, which promotes the production of a VEGF189 isoform. Expression constructs, compositions, and cells comprising such a nucleic acid molecule also are provided by the invention.