Molecular characterization of the epitope in prostate and breast tumor-associated PR92 antigen.

In our previous report, monoclonal antibody PR92 has defined prostate- and breast tumor-associated PR92 antigen. The molecular nature of PR92 antigen, especially the epitope involved in specific interaction with PR92 monoclonal antibody, is described. PR92 antigen was purified from the cell extract or tissue culture medium of prostate cancer cell line DU145 by means of monoclonal antibody-coupled Sepharose 4B affinity chromatography, followed by a Sephacryl S-500 chromatography. Physical and chemical characterization, coupled with high-performance liquid chromatography, determined that PR92 antigen is a glycoprotein with a molecular weight of about 470,000, comprising repeating subunits of about 44,000. Sialic acid was found to form a critical part, while D-galactose and N-acetylgalactosamine were also involved, in the epitope structure. PR92 antigen is rich in serine, threonine, proline, glycine, and alanine and poor in aromatic amino acid residues. The carbohydrate moieties may be predominantly O-linked to polypeptide chains which contribute directly or indirectly to maintain the integrity of the epitope. Elucidation of the molecular nature of PR92 antigen may help understand the mechanism of shedding into the body fluids during tumor progression.