PSMA
PSMA (prostate-specific membrane antigen, encoded by FOLH1) is a type II transmembrane glycoprotein and member of the M28 peptidase family. It acts as a glutamate carboxypeptidase, also known as glutamate carboxypeptidase 2, GCPII, NAALAdase and folate hydrolase 1. Browse Assay Genie's current range of PSMA research reagents below, or read on for the biology behind the target.
PSMA is a type II transmembrane glycoprotein that acts as a glutamate carboxypeptidase on several alternative substrates, including the nutrient folate and the neuropeptide N-acetyl-L-aspartyl-L-glutamate (NAAG). It also exhibits a dipeptidyl-peptidase IV type activity, and in vitro it cleaves Gly-Pro-AMC. UniProt records its location as the cell membrane and cytoplasm.
The FOLH1 gene encodes the protein, which belongs to the peptidase M28 family, M28B subfamily, and to the HGNC group of M28 metallopeptidases. PSMA is expressed in a number of tissues, including the prostate, the central and peripheral nervous system and the kidney. The gene likely arose from a duplication of a nearby chromosomal region, and alternative splicing gives rise to multiple transcript variants encoding several different isoforms. The mouse and rat orthologs are both named Folh1.
The protein has several names reflecting its history. The earlier HGNC name was folate hydrolase (prostate-specific membrane antigen) 1, and aliases include PSM, NAALAD1, GCP2 and FOLH. In the prostate, PSMA is up-regulated in cancerous cells and is used as an effective diagnostic and prognostic indicator of prostate cancer. In the brain, its expression may be involved in pathological conditions associated with glutamate excitotoxicity. A mutation in the gene may be associated with impaired intestinal absorption of dietary folates, resulting in low blood folate levels and consequent hyperhomocysteinemia.
PSMA is up-regulated in cancerous prostate cells and serves as an effective diagnostic and prognostic indicator of prostate cancer.
PSMA acts on the neuropeptide NAAG, and its expression in the brain may be involved in conditions associated with glutamate excitotoxicity.
As a glutamate carboxypeptidase acting on folate, PSMA is relevant to dietary folate absorption, blood folate levels and hyperhomocysteinemia.
PSMA is an M28B subfamily peptidase with glutamate carboxypeptidase and dipeptidyl-peptidase IV type activities, making it a model for studying substrate specificity.
PSMA is a type II transmembrane glycoprotein that acts as a glutamate carboxypeptidase on alternative substrates, including folate and the neuropeptide N-acetyl-L-aspartyl-L-glutamate. It also shows a dipeptidyl-peptidase IV type activity and cleaves Gly-Pro-AMC in vitro.
PSMA is encoded by FOLH1 and is also called glutamate carboxypeptidase 2, GCPII, GCP2, NAALAdase, NAALAD1, PSM and FOLH. Its former HGNC name was folate hydrolase (prostate-specific membrane antigen) 1. Alternative splicing produces several transcript variants and isoforms.
PSMA is up-regulated in prostate cancer cells and is used as a diagnostic and prognostic indicator. A gene mutation may be associated with impaired folate absorption and hyperhomocysteinemia. Mouse and rat both carry a Folh1 ortholog; check the datasheet of any product for its validated reactivity.
Other peptidases, folate-pathway proteins and prostate cancer markers with products at Assay Genie.
Gene and protein annotations from HGNC, NCBI Gene and UniProt Q04609; product specifications from Assay Genie datasheets.