Molecular cloning and characterization of prostase, an androgen-regulated serine protease with prostate-restricted expression.

ABSTRACT: The identification of genes with selective expression in specific organs or cell types provides an entry point for understanding biological processes that occur uniquely within a particular tissue. Using a subtraction approach designed to identify genes preferentially expressed in specific tissues, we have identified prostase, a human serine protease with prostate-restricted expression. The prostase cDNA encodes a putative 254-aa polypeptide with a conserved serine protease catalytic triad and an amino-terminal pre-propeptide sequence, indicating a potential secretory function. The genomic sequence comprises five exons and four introns and contains multiple copies of a chromosome 19q-specific minisatellite repeat. Northern analysis indicates that prostase mRNA is expressed in hormonally re

SUBMITTER: Nelson PS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC15904 | biostudies-literature | 1999 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature