title: Identification, Molecular Characterization and Alternative Splicing of Three Novel Members of the Canine Kallikrein (Klk)-related Peptidase Family.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Kallikrein-related peptidases (KLKs) comprise a serine protease family with prominent roles in tissue physiology and disease pathogenesis, including cancer. Previously, we have characterized canine Klk4-10 and -14. Herein, we continue our efforts by characterizing three novel members of the canine family, i.e. Klk11-13, and investigating their expression in mammary cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and DNA sequencing were used for investigating the expression and determining the nucleotide sequence of all transcripts identified, respectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  It was demonstrated that (i) unlike other Klks, (CANFA)Klk12 probably possesses a non-AUG translation initiation codon, (ii) all three Klks undergo alternative splicing, with exon 2 and 3 concurrent elimination serving as the most prominent event, (iii) all transcripts identified were detected in both tumor and normal tissues, yet with different frequencies.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Having completed this work, Klk15 is the only gene remaining to experimentally resolve the entire canine Klk family. Our data lay sufficient groundwork for validation studies and await further incorporation into genetic/evolutionary studies with translational impact.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Biochemistry and Toxicology, School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece kangelop@vet.auth.gr.
authors.forename: Katerina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Angelopoulou
authors.affiliation: Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada Department of Pathobiology and Laboratory Medicine, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Canada.
authors.forename: George S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Karagiannis
mesh_terms: D017398:Alternative Splicing / Q000235:genetics*; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D004285:Dogs; D005091:Exons; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D007610:Kallikreins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D015674:Mammary Neoplasms, Animal / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D012697:Serine Endopeptidases / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D007610:Kallikreins; D012697:Serine Endopeptidases
keywords: Canis familiaris; alternative splicing; gene expression; kallikrein-related peptidases; mammary cancer