The -endothelial cell growth factor (b-ECGf) gene encodes an angiogenic factor and is mapped to human chromosome 11q13.1. Recombinant human b-endothelial cell growth factor (b-ECGf) is a 14 amino acid N-terminal extension of acidic fibroblast growth factor. It is expressed in Escherichia coli. The 154 amino acid recombinant protein generated after removal of the initiation methionine has a predicted molecular mass of about 17 kDa.