SYNONYMS
Prostate-specific antigen, PSA, Gamma-seminoprotein, Seminin, Kallikrein-3, P-30 antigen, Semenogelase, KLK3, APS, hK3, KLK2A1.
INTRODUCTION
Kallikrein-3 (KLK3) belongs to the kallikrein-related peptidase family. Kallikreins are a subgroup of serine proteases having various physiological functions. Numerous kallikreins are involved in carcinogenesis and some may be prospective cancer and other disease biomarkers. Kallikrein-3 is 1 of the 15 kallikrein subfamily members located in a cluster on chromosome 19 and is a protease present in seminal plasma. KLK3 hydrolyzes semenogelin-1 consequently leading to the liquefaction of the seminal coagulum. KLK3 is assumed to act normally in the liquefaction of seminal coagulum, probably by hydrolysis of the high molecular mass seminal vesicle protein. Serum level of the KLK3 protein, called PSA in the clinical setting, is beneficial in the diagnosis and monitoring of prostatic carcinoma.
DESCRIPTION
The Human Kallikrein-3 produced from Human Seminal Plasma has a molecular mass of 26.089kDa (calculated without glycosylation) containing 237 amino acid residues.
