Gene:
kallikrein 3, (prostate specific antigen)
Gene ID:
193469
Symbol:
KLK3
Species:
1000
Description:
Kallikreins are a subgroup of serine proteases having diverse physiological functions. Growing evidence suggests that many kallikreins are implicated in carcinogenesis and some have potential as novel cancer and other disease biomarkers. This gene is one of the fifteen kallikrein subfamily members located in a cluster on chromosome 19. Its protein product is a protease present in seminal plasma. It is thought to function normally in the liquefaction of seminal coagulum, presumably by hydrolysis of the high molecular mass seminal vesicle protein. Serum level of this protein, called PSA in the clinical setting, is useful in the diagnosis and monitoring of prostatic carcinoma. Alternate splicing of this gene generates two transcript variants encoding different isoforms. Additional transcript variants have been described, but it is unclear if these transcripts are normally expressed or if they are specific to benign or malignant tumors.