K. Rajakoski et al., EPITOPE MAPPING OF HUMAN PROSTATE-SPECIFIC ANTIGEN AND GLANDULAR KALLIKREIN EXPRESSED IN INSECT CELLS, PROSTATE CANCER AND PROSTATIC DISEASES, 1(1), 1997, pp. 16-20
Two human prostate gland proteases were expressed in insect cells usin
g recombinant baculovirus expression system, prostate specific antigen
(PSA) is an established serum marker of prostate cancer whereas the c
linical utility of its close homologue, human glandular kallikrein (hK
2) is presently unknown. The production levels using Trichoplusia ni c
ells were roughly 300 mu g/l and 6 mg/l for hK2 and PSA, respectively.
On western-blot we estimated the size for both proteins to be approxi
mately 33 kDa which was consistent with PSA purified from seminal plas
ma. Nine anti-PSA monoclonal antibodies (Mabs) out of 26 tested, repre
senting five independent epitopes, also reacted with hK2. The results
obtained in this study may help in designing more accurate diagnostic
assays for detection and monitoring of prostate cancer.