Laboratory of Molecular Carcinogenesis, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institute of Health, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA.
A gene from human chromosome 11p11.2 was isolated and was shown to suppress metastasis when introduced into rat AT6.1 prostate cancer cells. Expression of this gene, designated KAI1, was reduced in human cell lines derived from metastatic prostate tumors. KAI1 specifies a protein of 267 amino acids, with four hydrophobic and presumably transmembrane domains and one large extracellular hydrophilic domain with three potential N-glycosylation sites. KAI1 is evolutionarily conserved, is expressed in many human tissues, and encodes a member of a structurally distinct family of leukocyte surface glycoproteins. Decreased expression of this gene may be involved in the malignant progression of prostate and other cancers.