Characterization of the estrogen-induced pS2 protein secreted by the human breast cancer cell line MCF-7

Our laboratory has reported previously the cloning of a complementary DNA termed pS2, corresponding to a messenger RNA (mRNA) whose synthesis is induced by estrogen in the human breast cancer cells MCF-7. Examination of the possible open reading frames of this complementary DNA has led to the prediction that the pS2 protein could be a secreted polypeptide of either 58 or 63 amino acids in length. Using a rabbit antiserum prepared against a synthetic peptide corresponding to the last 31 amino acids of the putative protein, we show that a protein with the expected migration during sodium dodecyl sulfate gel electrophoresis can indeed be immunoprecipitated from either the culture medium of MCF-7 cells grown in the presence of labeled amino acids or the in vitro translation products of MCF-7 poly(A) RNA enriched in pS2 mRNA. Furthermore, in vivo and in vitro differential amino acid labeling allows us to conclude that the mature pS2 protein is probably secreted as a 58 amino acid long peptide. Finally, we show that pS2 protein synthesis is induced in MCF-7 cells by estradiol and phenol red, but not by the antiestrogen tamoxifen, in keeping with our previous results demonstrating estrogen induction of pS2 mRNA synthesis.