cDNA clones for mRNA sequences regulated by isoprenaline in mouse parotid glands were identified by differential colony hybridisation and all hybridised to a diagnostic proline-rich protein (PRP) oligonucleotide. They were divided into two cross-hybridisation groups, A and B, which were shown by hybrid-selected translations to encode acidic PRP and basic PRP, respectively.The A-type subgroup consisted of sequences homologous to the previously identified mouse PRP genes MP2 and MP3. The B-type subgroup comprised clones for the previously identified cDNA pUMP125 (MP4) as well as other PRP sequences. Six of the B-type clones contained a novel PRP cDNA (MPS) and these were sequenced. The composite MP5 cDNA was 897 nucleotides long and contained an open reading frame capable of encoding a 260-residue-long salivary PRP precursor (30% Pro, 19% Gln and 18% Gly), containing nine variant repeat units of consensus PGNQQGP-PPQGGPQQ(GPP)R(PPQ). MP5 was 80% identical to the sequence of MP4 and had a high degree of similarity (60%) at its 3'-untranslated region to rat salivary glutamate/glutamine-rich protein (GRP) cDNA. Two MP5 clones contained a 273-bp intron-like insertion in the 3' untranslated region, being derived, therefore, from incompletely spliced MP5 transcripts.Northern blotting showed that, although PRP mRNA species were induced by isoprenaline, a B-type PRP mRNA was present in normal parotid glands. RNA dot-blots probed with PRP-genespecific oligonucleotides established that MP3, MP4 and MP5 PRP mRNA were all induced by isoprenaline.Multiple salivary proline-rich proteins (PRP) [l] are induced by dietary plant polyphenols in rats and mice [2, 31. PRP bind polyphenols and protect rats against the toxic effects of polyphenols [4]. The induction of salivary PRP can be mimicked by treatment of rodents with the P-adrenergic agonist isoprenaline [2, 31.The multiple PRP species are encoded by a multigene family and in humans both differential RNA splicing and proteolytic cleavages generate more than 20 PRP from only six genes [5].In mice, induction of PRP by isoprenaline is due, at least in part, to increased transcription of PRP genes in parotid acinar cells [6]. Isoprenaline activates P-adrenoceptors and indirect evidence suggests that CAMP is the intracellular messenger [7], although the precise details of how induction occurs are still undetermined.Evidence from in vitro translations shows that in Balb/C mice there are six PRP mRNA species which are induced by isoprenaline, two of which encode acidic or A-type PRP and four of which encode basic or B-type PRP [8]. There are also at least two distinct constitutive PRP [9].