The human tissue kallikrein (KLK) family of serine proteases, which is important in post-translational processing events, currently consists of just three genestissue kallikrein (KLK1), KLK2, and prostate-specific antigen (PSA) (KLK3)-clustered at chromosome 19q13.3-13.4. We identified an expressed sequence tag from an endometrial carcinoma cDNA library with 50% identity to the three known KLK genes. Primers designed to putative exon 2 and exon 3 regions from this novel kallikrein-related sequence were used to polymerase chain reaction-screen five cosmids spanning 130 kb around the KLK locus on chromosome 19. This new gene, which we have named KLK4, is 25 kb downstream of the KLK2 gene and follows a region that includes two other putative KLK-like gene fragments. KLK4 spans 5.2 kb, has an identical genomic structure-five exons and four introns-to the other KLK genes and is transcribed on the reverse strand, in the same direction as KLK1 but opposite to that of KLK2 and KLK3. It encodes a 254-amino acid prepro-serine protease that is most similar (78% identical) to pig enamel matrix serine protease but is also 37% identical to PSA. These data suggest that the human kallikrein gene family locus on chromosome 19 is larger than previously thought and also indicate a greater sequence divergence within this family compared with the highly conserved rodent kallikrein genes.

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Mineralocorticoids and glucocorticoids exhibit overlapping but distinct effects on transepithelial sodium transport in the descending colon. Na,K-ATPase, the major sodium pump, has been variously reported to be regulated by one or both classes of steroids. The present studies explore the ontogeny and steroidal regulation of Na,K-ATPase alpha- and beta-subunit mRNA levels in the descending colon. In descending colon, subunit mRNA levels are low before birth, increasing to reach adult levels at approximately day 25. Dexamethasone treatment caused a rapid dose-dependent increase in colonic Na,K-ATPase subunit mRNA levels. The specific glucocorticoid RU26988 also increased subunit mRNA levels. Aldosterone administration, at doses adequate to yield a profound antinatriuresis, did not alter subunit mRNA levels. Carbenoloxone sodium produced an approximately 3-fold increase in subunit mRNA levels in intact but not adrenalectomized rats. We have demonstrated that Na,K-ATPase subunit gene expression is: 1) low in the fetal colon but achieves plateau levels by day 25; 2) acutely regulated by corticosteroids via type II rather than type I receptors; and 3) increased by carbenoxolone sodium, presumably as a result of increased occupancy of the type II receptor by corticosterone.

Mineralocorticoid resistance (pseudohypoaldosteronism) is a rare condition first described in 1958 and associated with failure to thrive, salt wasting, and dehydration in infancy. In the index case it has previously been shown that binding of aldosterone to mineralocorticoid receptors in peripheral blood lymphocytes is absent; here, we report results of the molecular characterization of the mineralocorticoid receptor in this patient. Genomic DNA extracted from peripheral blood lymphocytes was subjected to Southern blot analysis after digestion with various restriction enzymes. There was no evidence of a major gene rearrangement or deletion. Oligonucleotide primers were designed on the basis of the published human complementary DNA sequence to cover the entire open reading frame of the mineralocorticoid receptor (MR). Total messenger ribonucleic acid (RNA) from lymphocytes was subjected to reverse transcription and amplification using the reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction; the resulting fragments were then purified, subcloned, and sequenced. The patient showed no abnormality in the complementary DNA sequence corresponding to the open reading frame of the MR molecule compared with the published sequence. In addition, semiquantitative assessment of the patient's MR messenger RNA based on the reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction technique suggested that he was producing MR RNA in roughly normal quantities. The mechanism of mineralocorticoid resistance in this case, therefore, remains uncertain, and the possibility must be considered that the underlying abnormality is not in the MR gene, but in an independent gene acting through yet to be characterized processes.

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