Tissue kallikrein, kallikrein-related peptidases (KLKs), and plasma kallikrein form the largest group of serine proteases in the human genome, sharing many structural and functional characteristics. In this study, we describe the molecular cloning of four novel splice variants of the human KLK11 and KLK12 genes, discovered by combining 3' rapid amplification of cDNA ends (3' RACE), next-generation sequencing (NGS) technology, advanced bioinformatic analysis and Sanger sequencing. Expression analysis of these new transcripts in cell lines originating from 17 cancerous and two normal tissues revealed the expression pattern of each transcript. These novel KLK11 and KLK12 splice variants represent new potential cancer biomarkers.
Keywords: NGS; alternative splicing; alternative transcripts; kallikreins; serine proteases; splice variants.