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The T cell receptor gamma chain alternate reading frame protein (TARP), a prostate-specific protein localized in

Hiroshi Maeda1, Satoshi Nagata, Curt D Wolfgang

  • 1Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Center for Cancer Research, NCI, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892-4264, USA.

The Journal of Biological Chemistry
|May 20, 2004
PubMed

Insights

T cell receptor gamma chain alternate reading frame protein (TARP) is a prostate-specific protein found in mitochondria. Androgen up-regulates TARP, suggesting a role in mitochondrial function within prostate cells.

Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Cell Biology
  • Urology

Background:

  • T cell receptor gamma chain alternate reading frame protein (TARP) mRNA is exclusively expressed in the male prostate.
  • TARP expression is androgen-up-regulated in LNCaP cells, an androgen-sensitive prostate cancer line.
  • The protein's function and localization were previously uncharacterized.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To develop an antibody against TARP protein.
  • To determine the subcellular localization of TARP protein.
  • To investigate the role of androgen in TARP protein regulation and localization.

Main Methods:

  • Development of a monoclonal antibody (TP1) against TARP.
  • Western blotting and subcellular fractionation to determine TARP localization.
  • Immunocytochemistry and transfection with TARP-green fluorescent protein fusion constructs in prostate cell lines (LNCaP, MDA-PCa-2b, PC-3).

Main Results:

  • TARP protein is up-regulated by androgen in LNCaP and MDA-PCa-2b cells.
  • TARP is localized to the mitochondria, specifically the outer mitochondrial membrane, in multiple prostate cell lines.
  • Immunohistochemistry on human prostate cancer tissue confirmed mitochondrial localization of TARP.

Conclusions:

  • TARP is the first identified prostate-specific protein localized to mitochondria.
  • Androgen regulation of TARP suggests a potential role in mitochondrial function within the prostate.
  • Further research is warranted to elucidate TARP's biological functions in mitochondria.

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