Analysis of Prostate-Specific Antigen Transcripts in Chimpanzees, Cynomolgus Monkeys, Baboons, and African Green Monkeys
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Date
2014
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
PLoS One
Abstract
The function of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) is to liquefy the semen coagulum so that the released sperm can fuse with
the ovum. Fifteen spliced variants of the PSA gene have been reported in humans, but little is known about alternative
splicing in nonhuman primates. Positive selection has been reported in sex- and reproductive-related genes from sea
urchins to Drosophila to humans; however, there are few studies of adaptive evolution of the PSA gene. Here, using
polymerase chain reaction (PCR) product cloning and sequencing, we study PSA transcript variant heterogeneity in the
prostates of chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes), cynomolgus monkeys (Macaca fascicularis), baboons (Papio hamadryas anubis),
and African green monkeys (Chlorocebus aethiops). Six PSA variants were identified in the chimpanzee prostate, but only two
variants were found in cynomolgus monkeys, baboons, and African green monkeys. In the chimpanzee the full-length
transcript is expressed at the same magnitude as the transcripts that retain intron 3. We have found previously unidentified
splice variants of the PSA gene, some of which might be linked to disease conditions. Selection on the PSA gene was studied
in 11 primate species by computational methods using the sequences reported here for African green monkey, cynomolgus
monkey, baboon, and chimpanzee and other sequences available in public databases. A codon-based analysis (dN/dS) of
the PSA gene identified potential adaptive evolution at five residue sites (Arg45, Lys70, Gln144, Pro189, and Thr203).
Description
Keywords
Prostate, Transcripts, Chimpanzees, Cynomolgus Monkeys, Baboons, African Green Monkeys
Citation
Mubiru JN, Yang AS, Olsen C, Nayak S, Livi CB, et al. (2014) Analysis of Prostate-Specific Antigen Transcripts in Chimpanzees, Cynomolgus Monkeys, Baboons, and African Green Monkeys. PLoS ONE 9(4): e94522. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0094522