Fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF-2), also referred to as basic FGF, belongs to a family of growth factors that stimulate proliferation of cells of mesenchymal, epithelial and neuroectodermal origin. The mRNA for this gene contains multiple polyadenylation sites, and is alternatively translated from non-AUG (CUG) and AUG initiation codons, resulting in at least five different isoforms with distinct properties.