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A novel form of prostate-specific antigen transcript produced by alternative splicing
Cancer Research
|January 26, 2000
Summary
Researchers discovered a new prostate-specific antigen (PSA) variant in prostate cancer and benign tissue. This alternatively spliced PSA lacks a carbohydrate binding site, impacting its molecular function.
Area of Science:
- Molecular biology
- Biochemistry
- Oncology
Background:
- Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) molecular characterization is not fully understood despite extensive clinical research.
- Heterogeneity in PSA may influence its clinical utility.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the molecular heterogeneity of prostate-specific antigen (PSA).
- To identify and characterize novel alternatively spliced variants of PSA transcripts.
Main Methods:
- Utilized reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and direct sequencing.
- Employed nested RT-PCR systems for sensitive detection of spliced variants.
Main Results:
- Identified a novel alternatively spliced PSA variant in both prostate cancer (PC) and benign prostatic tissues.
- This variant results in the deletion of 44 amino acids (45-88), including asparagine 45, a glycosylation site.
- The novel variant was detected in 72.2% of noncancerous prostate tissue, 80.0% of PC tissue, and 25.0% of PC patient blood samples.
Conclusions:
- A novel alternatively spliced PSA variant exists in prostate tissue and blood.
- The biological significance of this PSA splicing variant requires further investigation.