Skip to main content
Article
Molecular cloning and expression of human Tumor-associated Polymorphic Epithelial Mucin
Journal of Biological Chemistry
  • Gendler S J, Imperial Cancer Research Fund
  • Lancaster C A, Imperial Cancer Research Fund
  • Taylor Papadimitriou J, Imperial Cancer Research Fund
  • Duhig T, Imperial Cancer Research Fund
  • Peat N, Imperial Cancer Research Fund
  • Burchell J, Imperial Cancer Research Fund
  • Pemberton L, Imperial Cancer Research Fund
  • El-Nasir Lalani, Aga Khan University
  • Wilson D, Imperial Cancer Research Fund
Publication Date
9-1-1990
Document Type
Article
Abstract

Human mammary cells present on the cell surface a polymorphic epithelial mucin (PEM) which is developmentally regulated and aberrantly expressed in tumors. PEM carries tumor-associated epitopes recognized by the monoclonal antibodies HMFG-1, HMFG-2, and SM-3. Previously isolated partial cDNA clones revealed that the core protein contained a large domain consisting of variable numbers of 20-amino acid repeat units. We now report the full sequence for PEM, as deduced from cDNA sequences. The encoded protein consists of three distinct regions: the amino terminus consisting of a putative signal peptide and degenerate repeats; the major portion of the protein which is the tandem repeat region; the carboxyl terminus consisting of degenerate tandem repeats and a unique sequence containing a transmembrane sequence and a cytoplasmic tail. Potential O-glycosylation sites (serines or threonines) make up more than one-fourth of the amino acids. Length variations in the tandem repeat result in PEM being an expressed variable number tandem repeat locus. Tandem repeats appear to be a general characteristic of mucin core proteins.

Citation Information
Gendler S J, Lancaster C A, Taylor Papadimitriou J, Duhig T, et al.. "Molecular cloning and expression of human Tumor-associated Polymorphic Epithelial Mucin" Journal of Biological Chemistry Vol. 265 Iss. 25 (1990) p. 15286 - 15293
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/elnasir_lalani/53/