We have previously described the molecular cloning of a cDNA probe which detects a 6 kb mRNA termed pOb24. pOb24 mRNA appeared to be a marker of the preadipose state both in vitro and in vivo. A pOb24 genomic fragment was isolated and used to screen cDNA libraries in order to isolate the full-length pOb24 cDNA and to identify the corresponding protein. The screening yielded a new cDNA clone which detected a 3.7 kb mRNA species in addition to the 6 kb mRNA species. Sequences at the 3′ end of the 6 kb and 3.7 kb mRNAs indicate that both mRNAs are generated from the same gene through the use of two different polyadenylation sites. The protein encoded by the 3.7 kb mRNA appeared to be homologous to the human alpha 2 chain of type VI collagen (A2COL6). The expression of the A2COL6 gene was not confined to adipose tissue; mRNA species can be detected in ovaries, adrenal glands and lungs but not in liver and skeletal muscle. The expression appeared specific for initial phase(s) of cell differentiation since it is parallel to that of the MyoD1 gene during muscle embryogenesis in vivo. In the myogenic C2C12 cell line, the A2COL6 gene exhibited the same regulation as MyoD1 and myogenin genes. These results indicate that A2COL6 gene expression is a marker of the preadipose state, but may also be a marker of other differentiation programmes such as that of muscle.